Parashat
Naso
2 Sivan 5774 / 30-31 May 2014
Torah: Numbers 4:21 – 7:89
Haftarah: Judges 13:2-25
Torah: Numbers 4:21 – 7:89
Haftarah: Judges 13:2-25
Shavuot 1
6 Sivan 5774 / 3-4
June 2014
Torah: Exodus 19:1 – 20:23
Maftir:
Numbers 28:26-31
Haftarah:
Ezekiel 1:1-28; 3:12
Shavuot 2
7 Sivan 5774 / 4-5
June 2014
Torah:
Deuteronomy 15:19 – 16:17
Maftir:
Numbers 28:26-31
Haftarah:
Habakkuk 3:1 – 19 (Ashkenazim); Habakkuk 2:20 – 3:19 (Sephardim)
Additional
Reading: Ruth
Dedications and calendar follow below. See our web site at www.bethmeier.org for complete event listings.
Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.
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MASTERY OF MONERY, MASTERY OF SELF
"Each person's holy things shall be his; whatever a person gives to the priest, it shall be his." Numbers 5:10
The Talmud (Berakhot 63a), citing this verse, suggests that one who does not donate to the sanctuary ultimately ends up needy, while one who does donate becomes wealthy. There are several ways to look at this. One might read the Talmud literally; it also says that for the one who donates, "much money will be his" (they are talking about more than tax breaks!). Perhaps the Talmud is referring to spiritual need and wealth - the failure to give results in spiritual emptiness, but donating creates spiritual fulfillment.
Rabbi Y.Y. Tronk of Kutno says that a miser is not the master of his money; only someone who is willing to part with his money is the master of it. Only by giving it away does he show that the money is "his"; i.e., it is under his control. Of course, the ability to give up that which is permitted and desirable demonstrates self-control as well.
Judaism does not prohibit the accumulation of wealth, nor does it require self-denial. But it does prohibit the complete retention of wealth and it does require self-control. So, all of the viewpoints are correct. When we make donations to our synagogue, we literally make our community wealthier. We also assure that when we require the synagogue to fill our spiritual needs, it will be there for us. Nor can we deny the inner sense of well-being that comes from donating to an institution we believe in, for we are gaining something of value as well. It feels good to know that we are helping to build and maintain something greater than ourselves. Finally, in doing so, we demonstrate that we truly are the masters of our selves.
When we donate holy things for a holy purpose, we increase our own holiness.
Shabbat Shalom and Chag Shavuot Sameach!
Dedications and calendar follow below. See our web site at www.bethmeier.org for complete event listings.
Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.
------------------------------------------------------------
MASTERY OF MONERY, MASTERY OF SELF
"Each person's holy things shall be his; whatever a person gives to the priest, it shall be his." Numbers 5:10
The Talmud (Berakhot 63a), citing this verse, suggests that one who does not donate to the sanctuary ultimately ends up needy, while one who does donate becomes wealthy. There are several ways to look at this. One might read the Talmud literally; it also says that for the one who donates, "much money will be his" (they are talking about more than tax breaks!). Perhaps the Talmud is referring to spiritual need and wealth - the failure to give results in spiritual emptiness, but donating creates spiritual fulfillment.
Rabbi Y.Y. Tronk of Kutno says that a miser is not the master of his money; only someone who is willing to part with his money is the master of it. Only by giving it away does he show that the money is "his"; i.e., it is under his control. Of course, the ability to give up that which is permitted and desirable demonstrates self-control as well.
Judaism does not prohibit the accumulation of wealth, nor does it require self-denial. But it does prohibit the complete retention of wealth and it does require self-control. So, all of the viewpoints are correct. When we make donations to our synagogue, we literally make our community wealthier. We also assure that when we require the synagogue to fill our spiritual needs, it will be there for us. Nor can we deny the inner sense of well-being that comes from donating to an institution we believe in, for we are gaining something of value as well. It feels good to know that we are helping to build and maintain something greater than ourselves. Finally, in doing so, we demonstrate that we truly are the masters of our selves.
When we donate holy things for a holy purpose, we increase our own holiness.
Shabbat Shalom and Chag Shavuot Sameach!
Rabbi Richard A. Flom
Congregation Beth Meier
Studio City, CA
http://www.bethmeier.org
Congregation Beth Meier
Studio City, CA
http://www.bethmeier.org
Visit me on Facebook
"For
the sake of Zion I will not be silent; for the
sake of Jerusalem
I will not be still." Isaiah 62:1
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CBM
Calendar:
Candle lighting:
Shabbat - 7:39 pm
Tuesday (Shavuot 1) – 7:42 pm
Wednesday (Shavuot 2) – 8:45
pm and yahrzeit candle if needed
Friday: Shabbat evening service – 8:00 pm. Oneg Shabbat follows.
Saturday:
Shabbat Morning Service – 10:00 am. Kiddush lunch follows.
Sunday: Religious School Culmination – 10:00 am. Join us
as we celebrate the conclusion of the school year with lots of singing and
noshing!
Tuesday: NO
Lunch and Learn. Tikkun Leil Shavuot – An Evening of Study for Shavuot – 9:00
pm – 11:00 pm. Snacks provided – of course!
Wednesday: Shavuot Morning Service –
10:00 am
Thursday: Shavuot Morning Service
(Yizkor) – 10:00 am
Friday, June 6: Shabbat Evening Service –
8:00 pm
Saturday,
June 7: Shabbat Morning Service –
10:00 am
This d’var torah is offered in memory of my father, Martin Flom, whose yahrzeit falls on Thursday, June 5. Y’hi zikhro liv’rakhah – His memory is a blessing.
This d’var torah is offered
in memory of my grandfather, Jacob Slome, whose yahrzeit falls on Friday, June
6. Y’hi zikhro liv’rakhah – His memory is a blessing.
This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Miriam Minya bat Alisa Batya, Howard Ehrlich, Jerry Forman, Pamela Huddleston, Rose Jordan, Jayne Kaplan, Frank Marcovitz, Marshall Neiman, and Phil Raider.
Please let me know if there is anyone you would like to add to the refuah shleimah list or if there is anyone who may be removed from the list.
My weekly divrei torah are also available via the Cyber Torah e-mail list.
Cyber Torah list management (no salesman will call!):
To subscribe
to Cyber Torah, send an e-mail with the subject heading “Subscribe Cyber Torah”
to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
To
request dedications of Cyber
Torah in honor of a simchah, in memory of loved ones or for a refuah shleimah
send an e-mail with your request to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
To unsubscribe
from Cyber Torah, send an e-mail with the subject heading “Unsubscribe Cyber
Torah” to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
