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אהיה כּטל בּסדלישׁראל אהיה כּטל לישׁראל אהיה כּטל לישׁראל אהיה כּטל לישׁראל אהיה כּטל לישׁראל אהיה כּטל לישׁראל This week’s edition is Dedicated Lirfuat Sarah Bat Rachel Betoch Shaar Cholei Yisrael MISHPATIM COMMUNITY PARASHA SHEET SHABBAT SHEKALIM 28th SHEVAT 5777 Shabbat begins: 17:17 Shabbat ends: 18:20 There was once a man who had three court! His words however fell on deaf friends. His best friend was with him ears and he realised he was wasting his wherever he went. When he went out time. He then went to his second friend shopping, partying, socialising, and when who was happy to help, but who informed he came home, this friend was always him he would only be able to take him as with him. far as the court entrance, but not all the The second friend was also a good friend. way in. At least he would offer assistance But he would only be with him at his up to the court, but the man remained home. Whenever he was at home then distressed. Who would be with him in RABBI JONATHAN TAWIL this friend would visit, yet whenever he court? DIRECTOR, TAL went out of his home, the friend didn’t He realised that he would have to go to escort him. the court alone. So along he went. Just Money, Money, Money! The third friend was less acquainted with before he entered the court, his third him. He would only see this friend from friend happened to be passing by. He time to time, yet whenever he saw him, met him and asked him why he was so they had much fun together. sad. The man explained his situation and Money makes the world go round is the Time passed by, and one day this man the third friend replied without hesitating, famous saying. We need money to buy was called in by the authorities and that not only would he be glad to enter our food, to build our houses to pay our accused of a heinous crime. Of course he the court with him, he even knew some day to day bills. Money enables us to persistently claimed his innocence, but to powerful lawyers that would happily repre- survive. Yet money, especially in today’s no avail. sent him in defence. And so it was, thanks economically hard hit world, seems to to this friend, the man was well represent- represent an evil. Money seems to be a ed. After this episode he lamented at the potion of lust and desire, and can take the lost time he had spent with the first two worst out of people. We hear stories of friends and realised how crucial a relation- embezzlement, fraud, to the astronomical ship he had with the real – third friend. sizes in their billions ($65Billion - Madoff) and we wonder, is money good or bad? Our Rabbis explain that the same is true Let us take a deeper look into our Parasha. in life. A person’s best friend is his money. Parashat Mishpatim is full of different It’s with him wherever he goes, he is Mitzvot particularly those pertaining to the constantly thinking about it and ways of relationship between man and his fellow. bettering his relationship with it. Yet when We are told to lend money and give the time comes to part from this world it charity specifically to the poor. Yet the says to him – I can only take you from Torah seems to use a peculiar way of your room to the door – I can only accom- stating this. The Pasuk states: He asked his best friend to attend the pany you from birth to death. Once a “Im Kesef Talve Et Ami, Et HeAni hearing with him and to come and defend person reaches the next world they (22:24) – “When you lend money to My him. cannot take with them any money. Then, people, [to] the poor person you”. His best friend answered that he would there are other friends – our parents and The commentators are baffled as to why gladly help, but he could only lead him real friends in this world. They are our the Torah states the poor person with you. from his room to the door of his house. best friends at home. They take care of us What is behind this statement, surely it He could not come out of his house with constantly they give us a roof over our should have just said when you lend mon- him. The man was startled. What are you head and seek the success we deserve in ey to the poor, why the extra addition saying?! You have been my best friend all life. Yet when the time comes, they can “with you”? my life, and all you can do is take me from only lead us from the house to the court, my room to the door?! I need you to they do not enter the court come with me and represent me in the with us. They provide for us, www.torahactionlife.com [email protected] אהיה כּטל לישׁראל אהיה כּטל לישׁראל אהיה כּטל לישׁראל אהיה כּטל לישׁראל אהיה כּטל לישׁראל אהיה כּטל לישׁראל and lead us on the right path; the rest is "Mamon?" It stands for "Ma Ata Moneh" - The son answered that the six that are up to us. At the end of the day we are "Why bother counting it?" It's not worth the alive will fly away due to the noise and personally responsible for our actions. effort! ... And you can similarly explain attack of the arrows, that will leave only Then there is the third friend, that friend [the other names for money in this the four dead birds. No noise would be that we don’t see so often – the Torah we manner]. Perhaps we could add that the loud enough to move them! learn and the Mitzvot we perform. When a English word "money" should also be The Ben Ish Chai explains that the money person finally stands in front of the read as "Ma Ani" – What am I worth? with us today, might fly away tomorrow. Heavenly Tribunal are the friends This Midrash teaches us that money The only money which is considered that will stand up and defend him. It is comes and money goes, but the world Imach – Yours - is that which you invest then that the person realises that these always stands. Our Rabbis have taught spiritually, other money is not guaranteed are the true friends that have such power. that wealth is not guaranteed for to be called yours; today it might be with generations. A person can be rich, yet you, but tomorrow who knows? We can now understand the meaning of Chas Ve Shalom his grandchildren might the Pasuk. If you lend money to the poor, be poor (as the various terms for "money" The Sages point out that aside from the and you do kindness with your money suggest). eternal bliss earned from the great then at the time of your passing, Et HeAni mitzvah, one is also assured that their Imach – the poor will be with you, they will The world is round, there are ups and descendants will gain the help they need come and guarantee you life in the next downs and nobody knows what in difficult times. This is hinted at in the world. That money, Torah and Mitzvot will tomorrow will bring. Yet, just as Hashem word Venatenu - and they shall give accompany you in the next world. They has created uncertainty, there are things which is spelled the same way whether will provide assistance at the gates of that certain. written forward or backward. The idea heaven. So concentrate now on them and The Ben Ish Chai brings an analogy of a thus expressed is that an act of giving let them be your best friend! man who once asked his intelligent son: actually results in an act of receiving. The Midrash in Bamidbar (22:8) asks why I there are 10 birds that came down on the Hebrew name for property is the roof, and hunters came and shot at Money just like any other object in the Nechasim? The reason given is because them killing 4, how many were left over? world can be used for good or bad; let us it becomes "covered up" ("Nichsim") from The son answered four. focus on the worlds we can create and one person and discovered by another! The father was angry with his son’s the lives we can impact positively with our The Midrash continues, and why is impetuous response. If there are ten and blessed wealth. currency called "Zuzim" in Aramaic? four are taken away that leaves ! He Because it moves ("Zazim") from one exclaimed. person to the next. Why is money called concludes that every man is obligated to both have independent reasons why you say “Bishvili nivrah ha'olam” – The world were found to be there. For each and was created for me. every person, Hashem stringed together This outstanding concept is not an a sequence of events which is unique excuse to skip to the front of the queue or only to them and in essence created that to barge on a bus, nor is it a reason to world for them. lead a life of haughtiness. R' Yerucham However, there is more to what R' Levowitz zt”l, the Mashgiach of Mir Yes- Yerucham means. Every blink, breath hivah explains that Hashem brought and even sneeze that was brought into AHARON GABBAY each and every person into this world this world was for you.
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