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Dedicated in memory of Rachel Leah bat R' Chaim Tzvi

Volume 6 Number 37 Brought to you by Naaleh.com Parshat Lech Lecha: Eternal Call Based on a Naaleh.com shiur by Mrs. Shira Smiles What was it about Avraham that he was us is eternal and not dependent on anything. of his soul that he couldn’t possibly stay alive if chosen to be the father of the Jewish people? But we do know that Avraham was chosen for Hashem’s name was at stake. He understood While the tells us about the righteous his good deeds and we have many statements that the ultimate truth was to give up his life. character traits of , not much is said of in the Torah testifying to this. The Torah says, When he decided to let himself be thrown into Avraham. The Ramban explains that one of “I am Hashem who took you out of Ur Kasdim the furnace, he knew that he could potentially the most pivotal events that showed to give you this land.” The Rambam says be forfeiting his life in the next world for doing Avraham’s extraordinary faith in Hashem was Avraham merited to receive the something forbidden. Yet his love for Hashem when he was thrown into the fiery furnace in because of the self sacrifice he displayed at Ur was so great it wasn’t contingent on any Ur Kasdim. The Ibn asks, why was this Kasdim. How can we say he wasn’t chosen for reward. The Netivot Shalom says, it was not not written in the Torah? The Ramban any reason? And if we say Avraham and the such a wonder that Avraham wasn’t burned in answers that it would have been impossible to Jewish people were chosen randomly, why in Ur Kasdim. The bigger wonder was why Ur record it without mentioning the idolatrous fact were they chosen? Kasdim wasn’t burnt by the fiery love of beliefs of Nimrod, which the Torah did not Avraham for Hashem. As a result of his want to do. The Shvilei Pinchas explains that Avraham actions, Avraham merited measure for was considered a ben Noach and according to measure that Hashem chose him and his The Maharal in Derech HaChaim quotes the Jewish law he was not allowed to give up his descendants out of love not dependent on Mishna in Avot, “Love that is dependent on a life for Hashem. How then can we say that his anything. Avraham’s extraordinary strength thing will not last. Love that is not dependent act was meritorious? The says that and self-sacrifice was passed down through on anything is eternal.” The Torah says that Avraham was saved from the furnace in the the generations. Our love for Hashem and His Hashem chose Avraham, but it does not say merit of Yaakov, whose attribute is truth. love for us is everlasting. why. This teaches us that Hashem’s love for Avraham understood in the deepest recesses Honorable Mentchen II – The Motives of Tzedaka Based on a Naaleh.com shiur by Hanoch Teller Our sages teach that the benefits of giving businessman, Pinchas Landau, who him, made as if a ten dollar bill had fallen off ellecharity are so significant that Hashem will lived in . In 1921 he experienced a the table and bent down to pick it up for him. credit a person for giving tzedakah even if his severe setback in his business. His family The man, his face beaming said, ‘Thank you, I intentions weren’t altruistic. Many people are insisted that he stop giving money to the poor. was sure I had that bill.’ ” She writes, “My less generous than they could be, because Mr. Landau felt that a decision of this magni- friend did a great kindness. It wasn’t just the they are afraid they will lose their money if tude warranted the approval of a great Torah ten dollar gift. It was treating the poor man with they give too much. Yet the Shulchan Aruch sage. So he made the long trip from London to care and respect so that he would not know writes that one’s assets will never be reduced Vienna to consult with the Chofetz Chaim who that he had received charity.” by giving charity. On the contrary, the had come to participate in the Knessiah says, “Aser kedei she’titasher. Give a tenth so Gedolah, the convention of the Agudath In the same vein, it’s better to give someone a that you will become wealthy.” The Gemara Yisrael movement. The Chofetz Chaim would loan rather than charity to spare him shame. If says there’s a prohibition to test Hashem, but speak to Hashem like a close friend. At the he’s incapable of paying you back, try to avoid in the area of charity one may test Him. third meal he began reciting the meeting him to save him from embarrassment. psalm, Mizmor l’. When he got to the Giving of your professional services to the In medieval , would often have words, “Ach tov v’chesed yirdefuni (May only poor is also form of charity. People who work the table on which they had served poor good and kindness pursue me),” he explained. with children are in a position to discern their people fashioned into their coffin as a There will always be hindrances in life. Far needs. Rav Aryeh Levin would stand and reminder that man can take nothing with him better that people pursue you for your watch the children in Eitz Chaim. He would except his good deeds. People often think kindness and charity, than for other misfor- notice which children had tattered shoes or when they see a poor man, “I have faith in tunes. Mr. Landau walked out a happy man. torn pants and he would give them money to Hashem that He will protect him and provide buy extra food or to take a bus home on a cold for him.” But the Chassidic masters say, be The Sefer Chassidim writes that the highest . less of a baal bitachon. As Rabbi Abraham level of charity is giving tzedakah in a way that Twersky says, “Have trust in Hashem for the recipient doesn’t feel he’s getting charity. If The Noda B’Yehudah was asked to give yourself and see what you can do to help someone comes around selling something, money for a worthy cause. He gave a others.” even if you don’t need it, buy from him. In an significant sum, but not all of it. He acted as essay in the NY Times, Alice Allan writes that the Mishna in Avot says, one should not take Charity is a privilege and we have to view she was sitting in a restaurant with a friend all of the for himself but let others ourselves as fortunate rather than burdened, when they noticed a poor man frantically participate as well. if we can give to the poor. In the early 20th searching in his pockets for cash to pay for his century there was a generous English meal. She recounts, “My friend approached

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visit us online at: www.naaleh.com | for questions, suggestions, or dedication opportunities, email [email protected] 1 Dedicated in memory of Rachel Leah bat R' Chaim Tzvi

Volume 6 Number 37 Brought to you by Naaleh.com Spiritual Serenity: The Holy Day of Shabbat Based on a Naaleh.com shiur by Rabbi Hershel Reichman What is it about Shabbat that makes it so tap into its holiness. When a Jew keeps divorces from Hashem. To some extent, special? Why is it one of the most fundamen- Shabbat he connects to the holy light of the someone who violates Shabbat damages his tal mitzvot in the Torah? The calls Creator that joins the soul to its original root holiness as a Jew and loses some of his Shabbat, yoma d’nishmata, the day of the under the throne of Hashem in heaven. For six Jewishness. But there is a road back. If he soul. It is the ultimate pleasure of the soul, the days the soul struggles in a dark, evil, world repents and observes Shabbat again, he can highest expression of love between Hashem filled with challenges. On Shabbat, the soul remarry Hashem and come back to full and the Jewish people. The sages say gains new energy for the coming week. The . Shabbat is me’ein olam habah, a taste of the prophet Yeshaya said, “Az titanag al Hashem.” World to Come. The Ohr Hachaim in The pleasure of Shabbat is being with There is significance to the communal aspect teaches that enjoying the Shabbat day is a Hashem, holding His hand, and basking in His of Shabbat. The Netivot Shalom points out that privilege and a requirement. We have to embrace. The Ramchal says this is the goal of the gemara says, Yisrael, the experience the pleasure of Shabbat in this life. Man must navigate the maze of life and collective of Israel will be the marriage partner world to be able to move on higher to the full rediscover Hashem. of Shabbat. Whereas an individual Jew can pleasure of the soul in olam habah. marry out of his religion and be lost to his The Baal Tov says deveikut Hashem is nation, the Jewish people as an entity can The Rambam writes that if one keeps the not meant to be reached in the World to Come. never break its connection to Hashem. Shabbat, it is as if one has kept the whole The pleasure of cleaving to Hashem can be Hashem and Israel are married forever. The Torah. If one worships idols, it is as if one has experienced in this world on Shabbat. The Almighty promised that He would always stay desecrated the whole Torah. He rules that if a Rambam says those who keep Shabbat get connected to us. When we keep Shabbat it’s Jew violates the Shabbat purposely in public, their reward in this world. It is the pleasure of not only the individual keeping it, but the nation he has desecrated his holiness as a Jew and being with Hashem experienced through the who can never be severed from Hashem or has the halachic status of an idol worshiper. neshama yeteirah, the extra soul, that we get Shabbat. He is disqualified from giving testimony and on Shabbat. cannot be a shochet (ritual slaughterer). Just This explains why the Netivot Shalom places as idol worship is a violation of a basic The Netivot Shalom writes an inspiring thought great importance on joining a communal fundamental of the Torah, so is violating the from the Avnei Nezer based on the Avudra- gathering to celebrate Shabbat. The beauty of Shabbat. ham. On all the holidays, Shachrit, Mincha, Kabalat Shabbat reaches its peak as communi- and Maariv share the same basic prayer ties of voices sing Lecha Dodi together. On The sages say that the Shabbat contains format. However, on Shabbat each of the three Shabbat day, we have the communal mitzvah more blessing and holiness than any other prayers are different. This is because Shabbat of reading the Torah. Jewish law even allows a holy day. We also see that desecrating represents the marriage of the Jewish people mourner to come to shul on Shabbat because Shabbat is more severe than desecrating yom with the seventh day. it is through the community of Israel that we tov. If a Jew violates yom tov he is punished can connect to Hashem. The collective soul of by kareit (his soul is cut off in this world and The Jewish marriage has three levels. The first nishmat Yisrael can never be defiled. It’s the next), while if he violates Shabbat he is stage is kidushin, when the groom gives the above time and place and comes from a world punished by the death penalty of stoning. bride a ring. The second level is nesuin, when where there are no sins. What about Shabbat makes it the holiest day he brings her into his domain. The third stage of the ? is yichud, when they merge into one entity. Shabbat is the connection of the soul of Similarly, Shabbat and Klal Yisrael are joined Knesset Yisrael with the holy spirit of Hashem The Kobriner Rebbe notes that Shabbat is the in a holy sanctified marriage that involves that comes into the world on the seventh day. fundamental connection between the Jewish three stages. Friday night is kedushin. In We say in davening, “V'yanuchu bo kol people and Hashem. The Bereishit Rabbah Maariv we say, “Ata kedashta,” You created a Yisrael.” The national soul rests on Shabbat. says that when Hashem created the world He holy relationship. In Shachrit we advance to The Kozhnitzer Maggid and the Noam paired each day with a partner. Shabbat was the next level of nesuin when we become one Elimelech taught that the union of love of the left alone and so Hashem said, “The Jewish family unit. In Mincha we reach the final stage. Jewish people on Shabbat is a collective people will be your partner in marriage.” The Zohar calls it d’rava, the deepest experience, more than it is an individual most profound love. We say, “Ata echad,” You experience. This is why if someone violates The Zohar writes that the 613 mitzvot help the are one. The most joyous day of the week is the Shabbat he is cut off in a certain sense soul maintain its holiness in a world of evil Shabbat when the Jewish people, the groom, from the Jewish nation. May we merit to and defilement. The Torah is a roadmap unite with the Shechina, the Shabbat bride. experience the true sweetness and tranquility showing us the way to traverse through the of Shabbat, the taste of Gan Eden, that is truly obstacles of this world so that the soul can Shabbat is the fusion between Hashem and Shabbat. eventually return to a higher place in heaven. Israel. Therefore, if a Jew violates the day, it is Shabbat is the most potent way for the soul to as if he cuts off his connection to the Almighty, as if he breaks the marriage contract and

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visit us online at: www.naaleh.com | for questions, suggestions, or dedication opportunities, email [email protected] 2