Hanna's Dvar Torah

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In Jerusalem lived a very cheerful Jew named Nachum Margaliyot. He was always happy, despite leading a difficult life and losing two daughters. When he was asked how he can always be happy, he answered with a parable: “When you walk on the street and suddenly feel a hit on your shoulder, you turn around to see who did it. If it is a stranger, you will naturally get angry. But if you realize it is someone you love, you will understand that the hit was friendly and you will not get upset, even if it was painful. It is the same with me. I indeed received very painful hits, but every time I look back, I understand they came from a loving G-d. This is how I can continue to be cheerful, nevertheless. »

When you love G-d and you know that He loves you too, you interpret everything that happens to you as something positive for you.

In this week’s Parasha, Moses, before passing away, rebukes the people of Israel. Among other things, he reminds them that they complained that G-d took them out of Egypt because He hated them, to kill them in the desert. Their outlook was so distorted that even though they saw open miracles, they interpreted it as hatred.

Everything depends on “who hits us on the shoulder”. Let us wear the correct lenses to look at the reality and interpret it positively. Let us search for the hidden good in everything that happens to us.

Shabbat Shalom,

Hanna

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This week, we will read a double Parasha: Matot and Masei, completing the fourth book of the Torah, Bamidbar – Numbers.

Let's discuss to the name of the second Parasha, Masei, which means “Journeys”. The Parasha starts with listing all the wandering of the Israelites in the desert, i.e, they traveled from this place and encamped in that place, they traveled from that place and encamped in a third place etc. Most of their time was spent encamping somewhere. The journey was only a means to get from one place to another. Why then is the whole Parasha called “Journeys”?

Each one of us goes through two phases in his or her life. The first is the “journey” when we grow, i.e when we put in efforts and advance. The second is that of the “encampment”, i.e when we rest and enjoy our achievements.   

Which phase is more important?

It says in the Ethics of our Fathers (Pirke Avot): “Who is wealthy? One who is happy with what he has”. We need not to search for more. If we have a car, we should not constantly be in the search of a better one.

Then, maybe the “encampment” phase is the most important one?

Rabbi Shneor Zalman, the first Rebbe and founder of the Chabad movement, explains that in certain situations, the spiritual and material matters are exact opposites. While in material matters, it is good to be satisfied with what you have, in spiritual matters, this is a big mistake. We must always advance, put in efforts to improve ourselves and the world around us.

This is the message of the name of the Parasha, Masei: Never to be satisfied with what we have, with whatever we have accomplished spiritually. We need to always be on a “journey” towards a better self and a better world.

Let’s think of an action we can take to advance and become better. One Mitzvah, some Torah study, more Tsedaka or volunteering. May these continued efforts bring Mashiach now!

Shabbat Shalom,

Hanna

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What is the most dangerous thing in a psychological analysis?

It's when someone who is not a specialist thinks that he/she is and starts analyzing the people around him/her. “I know why this one gives charity so generously, it’s because he/she wants his/her name to appear on the honorary plaques”. Or: “The reason he/she always ready to help is because he/she has a low self-esteem and is constantly looking for validation from others”.

Is it really that easy to know the motives of someone else’s actions?

In this week’s Parasha Pinchas, Pinchas intervenes and kills the person who was sinning in front of the whole people. Thanks to his action, G-d’s anger recedes, and He stops the plague that had started because of the sin.

But Pinchas’ action was not appreciated by everyone. Some commented that his motives were not right: he had killed the sinner because of his cruel and merciless character. At this point, G-d intervened and confirmed that Pinchas’ motives were pure and that he acted out of true care for the people who were dying from the plague caused by the sin.

Often, when someone does a good action, someone else comes and says that his motives are not correct.

Let’s ask ourselves:

First, how do we know what are the motives of someone else? Are we prophets?

Second, let’s suppose that his/her motives are indeed incorrect. If it is a good action, he/she should continue to do it. Even if someone gives charity for the wrong reasons, the poor people still get the help they need.

Third, before analyzing the motives of the other, let’s first analyze our own motives. Why do we feel the need to criticize someone else’s good actions? Sometimes, we criticize good actions in order to justify why we ourselves are not doing them. Instead of acknowledging that we are egoistic, indifferent or lazy, it’s easier to say that the other’s motives are wrong.

Next time we see someone doing something positive, instead of wondering about his/her motives, let us join the effort and do a good action too. Each good action brings us close to Mashiach!

Shabbat Shalom,

Hanna