THE END OF POVERTY IS IN YOUR HANDS

Av 30, 5782 / August 26-27, 2022

Parashat Re'eh – Rosh Chodesh Elul
Torah: Deuteronomy 11:26 - 16:17
Maftir: Numbers 28:9-15
Haftarah: Isaiah 66:1-24 (Shabbat Rosh Chodesh)

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This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Jay Goodman, Minnie Leah bat Channah Bella, Chanah Bella bat Kreina, Feigel bat Kreina, and Devorah bat Feigel.

This d'var torah is offered in honor of the women of Temple B'nai Hayim who will be conducting services, chanting Torah and haftarah, and more this Shabbat morning for Shabbat Rosh Chodesh.
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Lunch and Learn meets Tuesdays at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live. We're continuing to read and discuss the Midrashic collection Ein Ya'akov. On August 30 we'll be at BT Shabbat 15a - page 112 of Ein Ya'akov Volume 1 - "...אמר רב כהנא" - "R. Cahana said:..." 

There will be NO Lunch and Learn on September 6. 

Ein Ya'akov is available for on-line reading or as a downloadable PDF at: 
HebrewBooks.org Sefer Detail: Ein Yakkov Vol 1 -- S. H. Glick 
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Rabbi Van Leeuwen has a blog which you should read at: 
https://rebjasonblog.wordpress.com/blog/ 
Dr. Steve Pearlman writes up the "Midrashim of the Week", which you should read at: 
https://midrashsrp.wordpress.com 
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Check out our wonderful community, and get lots of info about our various programs and becoming a Member at: https://bnaihayim.org/ 

This weekend is TBH Open House, featuring Shabbarbecue and Service Friday night, Women's Rosh Chodesh Shabbat Service and kiddush luncheon on Saturday morning, S'mores Havdalah Saturday night, and Open House Sunday morning. All events are in person and live streaming. For more info call the temple office at (818) 788-4664. Come on down!

Rosh Hashanah is one month from Sunday! Please submit your TBH Membership/High Holy Day forms ASAP! And your Book of Remembrance forms! And check your mail for the High Holy Day bulletin! For more info call the temple office at (818) 788-4664. 

 
Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.
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THE END OF POVERTY IS IN YOUR HANDS

"However, there shall be no needy among you ..... If there should be a needy person among you … you shall not harden your heart or close your hand against your needy brother ... For the needy shall never cease to exist in the land; therefore I command you saying, 'You shall open your hand to your brother, to your poor and to your needy in your land.'" Deut. 15: 4, 7, 11

What is Moses trying to teach us here? In two brief paragraphs, he tells us there will be no needy people, then tells us what to do should there be needy people, then says there always will be needy people. The answer is found, in part, in the verses I did not quote. If only you hearken to the voice of the Lord, observe this commandment, etc. - then there will be no needy. So why does he conclude by saying that the needy will always exist?

Moses is a cynic. He suspects that not everyone will obey the commandment to give tzedakah (צדקה - "charity", from the Hebrew root צדק meaning "justice" or "righteousness"), or lend under a social regime in which all debts are forgiven every seven years. He's correct, of course, which is unfortunate. It means that those who do give, who do obey this commandment (and the related commandments concerning corners of the field, tithing, etc.), bear an unfair share of society's burden. Perhaps this is why, at the opening of next week's parashah, Shoftim, Moses reinforces this by saying, "צדק צדק תרדף למען תחיה" - "be just, pursue justice, that you may live"

In Psalms 41:2 we are told: “Fortunate is one who is thoughtful to the poor." According to Rabbi Yehudah Nachshoni, one who observes these laws "cannot live by exploitation or by using money for evil purposes." To him, it is self-evident. This is not feel-good pop psychology. Money is morally neutral. It's what we do with it that counts. I learned the first time I took a nickel to the candy store that spending money is a zero sum game. If we use our money for evil, or simply refuse to part with it out of greed or selfishness, it does no one any good; if we use it for good, we can not possibly use it for evil.

This is easy enough to prove to yourself. Every time you are about to spend money on something morally or legally questionable, drop the money in a tzedakah box instead. You'll be surprised to see how much good can come from avoiding evil. Create a good habit.  Anybody reading this can afford to put something in a tzedakah box on a regular basis - like every Friday afternoon before Shabbat. Prove Moses wrong! We can end poverty not with closed fists, but only with open hands.

Shabbat Shalom! Chodesh Elul Tov!

Rabbi Richard A. Flom - Rabbi Emeritus
Temple B'nai Hayim
http://rav-rich.blogspot.com/  

.אֵיזֶהוּ חָכָם? הַלוֹמֵד מִכָּל אָדָם

Who is wise? The one who learns from every person.
Ben Zoma - Pirkei Avot 4:1
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