SAY IT ISN’T SO!

Parashat Re'eh

Av 29, 5785 / August 22-23, 2025
Torah: Deuteronomy 11:26 - 16:17
Haftarah: Isaiah 54:11 - 55:5 (Third Haftarah of Comfort) Some Sephardic congregations add the first and last verses of the haftarah for machar chodesh.

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This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah and a speedy and safe return of all the hostages being held by Hamas.

This d’var torah is offered for an end to the hunger crisis in Gaza.

Lunch and Learn meet again on September 8.

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SAY IT ISN’T SO!

"You shall not do so to the Lord your God." Deuteronomy 12:4

R. Menachem Mendel of Kotzk: Your worship of God shall not be "so", as a monotonous routine - one simply meant to fulfill your obligation - but for the sake of God and with a feeling of holy reverence.

"For you shall surely open your hand to (the needy), and you shall surely lend him enough for his need, that is lacking for him." Deuteronomy 15:8

Rashi: You shall surely open even many times. (Citing Sifrei)

There is a conflict between two concepts relating to the fulfillment of the mitzvot. The concepts are keva' (regularity) and kavanah (focused intent). One must observe the mitzvot regularly and become accustomed to them. At the same time, whenever one performs any particular mitzvah, one should do so intensely, focused on the holy significance of the act, and what it accomplishes. That's not easy to do on a regular basis. That is possibly a reason for reciting a statement of intent (also called a kavanah) and a b’rakhah, a blessing, before performing a mitzvah.

Tzedakah boxes 

But the giving of tzedakah, charity (derived from the word tzedek - justice), is somewhat different. Tzedakah surely is a mitzvah. It might also be considered a form of worship in the sense of avodah – service to God. Thus, we learn from the Kotzker Rebbe and Rashi that no matter how often we give tzedakah, with keva', it cannot be done in a rote manner; we must do it with kavanah, with feelings of intensity and holiness.

Unlike virtually any other mitzvah, there is no b'rakhah recited before giving tzedakah. Perhaps the reason for no blessing is to prevent us from feeling too proud of ourselves for having performed the mitzvah. Another reason might be that it objectifies the recipient as a means for performing the mitzvah and could also embarrass them. Perhaps more important, the recitation of the b'rakhah delays the performance of the mitzvah, and with charity, time can sometimes mean the difference between life and death.

Give tzedakah, often, and know that it is a holy act. But don't think about it for too long.

Shabbat Shalom! Chodesh Elul Tov!

Rabbi Richard A. Flom
Rabbi Emeritus, Temple B’nai Hayim
.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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