Hanna's Dvar Torah

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What is the secret of love? It is often said that loving is giving. Is there love in receiving as well?

The Parashah of this week Teruma starts with G-d’s commandment to the Jewish people to gather donations for the building of the Mishkan, the portative Temple. G-d says: “Speak to the children of Israel, and have them take for Me an offering; from every person whose heart inspires him to generosity, you shall take My offering”. (Exodus 25:2). Rashi explains that the word “for Me” indicates that the contribution should be made with the proper intention and thought – in order to fulfill G-d’s will.

Generally, in philanthropy matters, the intention is not the most important thing. What counts is the action. The poor person will be satiated even if the donor contributed with the intention of getting recognition and honor. But here, it was about the Temple of G-d, symbolizing the union of spirituality and materiality. This material building needed to be infused with the right spiritual intention…

Did you notice that G-d said to take the offering to Him? Would it not be more logical to say to give Him offerings? It is written in this way to give us over an important message, not only about how charity should be given, but also about how it should be received. The poor person must receive with the correct intention – to fulfill G-d’s will.

G-d created this world in a way that some people are richer and others poorer. This was not done by mistake. In this way, there will we mutual help and relationships in this world. By accepting the charity, the poor person allows the system G-d created for kindness in this world to function.

We all have some qualities, talents, money, and we don’t have some others. We can no do everything on our own and we need the material or spiritual help of people around us. But many people are embarrassed to ask for help. They try to manage on their own.

This week’s Parashah reminds us that G-d created the world in a way that we should need one another. G-d wants mutual help to exist between us. It is not always easy for our ego. But this is how G-d’s system in this world works.

In order to have mutual love, we need to give but we also need to know how to receive from one another. When we have the humility to admit that the other has something to give us that we don’t have, we give him the opportunity to contribute.

Next time someone will propose you help to you, don’t avoid him. With a little humility and the intention to fulfill G-d’s will, let us accept his contribution. In the merit of our mutual help, G-d will send us Mashiach very soon!

Shabbat Shalom,

Hanna 

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When I studied this week’s Parashah Mishpatim, something very interesting caught my eye.

After reading last week about the Giving of the Torah, we now start learning various laws and commandments. Before starting, G-d tells Moses: “And these are the laws that you shall put in front of them” (Exodus 21:1). What does it mean to put the laws in front of them? The commentator Rashi explains that this is a pedagogical mandate. Moses should transmit the law to the Jewish people in the same manner that he would dress a table for them, ready for the meal. He should not be content to teach the Law and repeat it 2-3 times until the Jews knew it well and could observe it. He should devote time to also teach them the explanations and reasons for keeping these laws. As a rule, we keep all the laws because this is G-d’s will and by doing it, we unite with Him. But there are also specific reasons for each law.

As a student to become a teacher, in this last year of my studies, I teach several hours a week as part of my practice. I teach (currently though Zoom…) 4^th and 5^th grade. Yesterday actually, I had my teacher watch a class that I taught. (Thank G-d, it went well. Thanks for asking).

Rashi’s explanation about this pedagogical principle, fits exactly with the teaching of modern education, even though it precedes it by hundreds of years. Having the children understand the class and being able to repeat it is not enough, we need to study with them until they understand its essence.

If we think about it, why is there a need to understand the laws? The laws need to be observed. Does it make a difference if, when lighting the Shabbat candles or putting on Tefilin, we understand what we are doing?

Our actions, as ourselves, have both a “body” and a “soul”. The technical action, the “body”, does not change if we know the explanation of the action or not. We only need to know what we have to do. But the “soul” of the action, that is the feelings and the thoughts that accompany the action, are not the same. If we study the explanation of the specific action, we will do it more happily. In order to have the perfect action, we need both the “soul” and the “body”, the action and the feeling.

Since I am a teacher, today, I will give you homework 😊. Think about various actions we do as Jews, in our everyday life, during the cycle of the year or the cycle of life. Which Mitsvah do you observe but do not know its reason? Choose a Mitzvah and look for information about its explanation, reason, and symbolism. I am sure you will find it interesting and that it will help you observe it with more “soul” and enthusiasm. I’ll be glad to hear from you about which Mitzvah you chose.

A good starting point for your research can be here...

Shabbat Shalom,

Hanna