Parashat
Naso
9 Sivan 5777 / 2-3 June 2017
Torah: Numbers 4:21 – 7:89
Haftarah: Judges 13:2-25
9 Sivan 5777 / 2-3 June 2017
Torah: Numbers 4:21 – 7:89
Haftarah: Judges 13:2-25
Dedications
and a Calendar of Upcoming Events follow. For a full calendar and lots of other
information about our community, visit:
Please
feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.
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MASTERY
OF MONEY, 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.
"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.
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| Some use a piggy bank to save money for their own benefit; but a tzedakah box, aka a pushke, is for saving money to benefit the community |
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!
Rabbi Richard A. Flom
Congregation Beth Meier
Studio City, CA
Visit me on Facebook
Twitter: @DrahcirMolf
"From the place where we are absolutely right, flowers will
never grow in the spring."
"מן המקום שבו אנו צודקים לא יצמחו לעולם פרחים באביב"
Yehuda Amichai
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Candle lighting: 7:41 pm
Friday – Shabbat Evening Service – 8:00 pm. Oneg Shabbat
follows.
Saturday – Shabbat Morning Service – 10:00 am. Kiddush luncheon
follows.
Sunday – Religious School Culmination – 10:00 am – 12:30 pm.
Pizza and other fun stuff will be served. Everyone is invited to celebrate
another year of educating our children!
Tuesday – Lunch and Learn – 12:00 noon.
Friday, June 9 – Family
Shabbat Evening Service – 7:30pm. Oneg Shabbat follows.
Saturday, June 10 – Shabbat Morning Service –
10:00 am. Kiddush luncheon follows.
Saturday, June 24 – Temple B’nai Hayim
Women’s Rosh Chodesh Shabbat Morning Service. All women-led service – leyning,
aliyot, other readings available. Contact Carol Herskowitz at (818) 708-1906
for details. Men, be there too‼ We will not have a separate service at Beth
Meier on this date – we’ll be at B’nai Hayim!
This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Avi Shmuel
Yosef Hakohen ben Bella, Yaakov Rani Ben Margalit, Sarah bat Devorah, Susan
Arbetman, Ken Bitticks, Elsbet Brosky (Serach bat Miriam), Jerry Daniels,
Bryon Fendrich (Berel ben Chanah), Maya Fersht (Maya bat Esther), Dr. Samuel
Fersht (Shmuel Natan ben Gittel), Leonard Foint (Eliezer Moshe ben Esther),
Jerry Forman, Myra Goodman, Simon Hartman, Dena Kosche (Dena bat Sarah Emanu), Philip
Kovac, Tonya Kronzek (Zlata Malkah bat Sarah Emanu), Toni Linder, Deborah
Schugar Strauss (Devorah bat Chaya Feiga), and Helen Schugar (Chaya Feiga bat
Kreina).
Please let me know if there is anyone you would like to add to this
list or if there is anyone who may be removed from this list.
My weekly divrei torah are available through free subscription to
the Cyber Torah e-mail list. No salesman will call!
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