This document discusses the importance of giving tzedakah (charity) with the proper intentions and in a dignified manner. It tells a story of the Chazon Ish learning about Rav Moshe Shternbuch's family's exemplary practices of discreetly and unconditionally giving tzedakah even when sick. It urges readers to strengthen Torah study and mitzvah observance in Jerusalem to counter anti-religious influences and bring more holiness to the city.
This document discusses the importance of giving tzedakah (charity) with the proper intentions and in a dignified manner. It tells a story of the Chazon Ish learning about Rav Moshe Shternbuch's family's exemplary practices of discreetly and unconditionally giving tzedakah even when sick. It urges readers to strengthen Torah study and mitzvah observance in Jerusalem to counter anti-religious influences and bring more holiness to the city.
This document discusses the importance of giving tzedakah (charity) with the proper intentions and in a dignified manner. It tells a story of the Chazon Ish learning about Rav Moshe Shternbuch's family's exemplary practices of discreetly and unconditionally giving tzedakah even when sick. It urges readers to strengthen Torah study and mitzvah observance in Jerusalem to counter anti-religious influences and bring more holiness to the city.
is equivalent to the effort and sacrifice supported and encouraged, Hashem yer-
required. acheim. Each day, the situation becomes
The Art of Taking While diamonds are certainly more expensive than any of the metals listed, more and more dire. In addition, the anti-religious gov- Reward in this World for Mitzvos Tzedakah in another aspect these first three items were actually more valuable in Hash- ernment is promoting the activities of non-Jewish missionaries. This is being em’s eyes. Diamonds and other precious carried out under the guise of promoting By Rav Moshe Shternbuch a man of giving. Contributing to char- stones fell together with the mann, and tourism, yet it poses a grave threat to our ity in a way that does not meet the high bringing them was not considered such holy city. What can we do to stop this The following was standards of the Torah seriously detracts a sacrifice. At that time, giving up one’s devastation? written by Rabbi Daniel from the mitzvah. Only by working on gold, silver and even brass was consid- Anyone who has political influence Yaakov Travis based on oneself beforehand can one hope to ered a much greater contribution. should use it to stop what is taking place. a drasha given on leil achieve this level of giving. The Baalei Tosafos explain that gold is In doing so, he will sanctify Hashem’s Shabbos by Rav Moshe The Medrash states that after the Jew- symbolic of giving when one is healthy, name and return Divine glory to the city Shternbuch, Rosh Av Beis ish people said, “Na’aseh venishmah,” silver when sick, and brass when one is that houses the place of the Bais Hamik- Din of the Eidah Hacha- we received the commandment of close to death. The effort exerted when dosh. Every Jew should make his voice reidis of Yerushalayim. terumah, to give tzedakah for the Mish- giving tzedakah is not measured mere- heard in protest over this chillul Hash- ••••• kan. Just as we accepted the Torah un- ly by how much of a financial stretch em. conditionally, we must also be prepared it is; Hashem values one’s donations Whatever one can do to strengthen GIVING AND TAKING to give tzedakah without any strings much more when they are given from the study of Torah and the fulfillment “Speak to the Jewish people and have attached. When we do so, Hashem re- a healthy state and not motivated by ill- of mitzvos in Yerushalayim will sure aid them take for Me terumah” (Shemos sponds in kind and deals with us in an ness or troubles. this cause. The more kedushah we im- 25:2). elevated manner. On Purim, we are directed to give bue into Yerushalayim, the stronger we One of the primary mitzvos of Pu- Rav Shternbuch describes an incident unconditionally to whoever asks for our will be against an enemy whose desire rim is distributing matanos la’evyonim, that took place with the Chazon Ish. assistance. In fulfilling this mitzvah, we is to uproot every trace of sanctity from distributing gifts to the poor. While the The Chazon Ish once had a visitor from have a chance to take for ourselves and the home of the Shechinah. Every mouth halachos of reading the megillah are should be directed in prayer and all eyes should be raised towards the heavens intricate, giving tzedakah appears fair- Let us make the most of this special opportunity in search of mercy during this difficult ly straightforward. As long as we give two poor people enough money to buy and infuse our homes with this exalted level of kedushah. time for Klal Yisroel. a minimal Purim seudah, we have ful- ••••• filled the mitzvah. Rabbi Travis is a rosh kollel of Kol- London staying with him, so he decided bring Hashem’s light into our lives. Let lel Toras Chaim in Yerushalayim, and is Giving tzedakah involves much more to use the opportunity to find out more us make the most of this special oppor- than taking out a checkbook or reaching the author of Shaylos U’Teshuvos Toras about the background of his talmid, Rav tunity and infuse our homes with this Chaim and “Praying With Joy - A Daily into our pockets to pull out some coins. Moshe Shternbuch, who was also of exalted level of kedushah. How we give money has a major affect Tefilla Companion,” a practical daily English descent. He asked his guest to guide to improving one’s prayers, avail- on the mitzvah. In order for our tzedakah tell him a story about Rav Shternbuch’s STRENGTHEN able from Feldheim Publishers. Rav to have the maximum impact, we should family. YERUSHALAYIM try to understand the deeper significance Shternbuch’s weekly shiurim on the par- The man replied that Rav Shternbu- The holy city of Yerushalayim is cur- sha are now in print and will be avail- of this mitzvah. ch’s father was very careful about giv- The Torah instructs Moshe Rab- rently being assaulted by the non-reli- able soon from Feldheim Publishers as ing tzedakah in a way that would protect gious political entities that are in control a sefer titled, “A Voice in the Darkness.” beinu to tell the Jewish people, “Take... the honor of his guests. He would slip terumah.” Wouldn’t it be more accurate of the local government. In the palace of For more information about his work, some money into their wallets before the King, Shabbos desecration is being contact dytravis@actcom.com.) to write that we should “give” tzedakah they would leave. This way, they would for the building of the Mishkan? By us- not have to feel embarrassment about re- ing the word “take,” the Torah reveals a ceiving charity. special aspect of this mitzvah. The Chazon Ish heard the story, but When we give tzedakah to those who was not satisfied. He was searching for need it, Hashem responds by elevating a deeper aspect of the nature of Rav us to a level where we are enveloped by Shternbuch’s family. He asked his guest His kedushah. The purer our intentions for another story. and the more we give for the sake of His The visitor related that when Rav honor, the more kedushah we will be im- Shternbuch’s father was sick, he prom- bued with by our tzedakah. In essence, ised to give a certain sum of money to when we give we are really taking. tzedakah if he recovered. A short time later, he reconsidered what he had prom- TAKING TERUMAH ised and decided instead that he would In the next verse, the Torah reverts give the money whether he recovered or back to the standard phraseology of not. He decided to give the money right “giving.” This refers to someone who away - regardless of whether he would does not have the correct intentions; get better or not. rather, he must force himself to give. After the Chazon Ish heard this sto- The Torah describes this as terumas- ry, he was placated. His guest had now chem, “your gifts,” for they are not in- sufficiently portrayed the family Rav fused with the kedushah of the Divine Shternbuch came from - a family who Presence that the other gifts, given with performed the mitzvah of tzedakah more purity of heart, contain. properly. This accurately reflected the The use of the word terumah when re- chinuch that the Chazon Ish knew Rav ferring to tzedakah teaches us a crucial Shternbuch must have received as a aspect of this mitzvah. Food grown in child. Eretz Yisroel is forbidden to eat without first separating terumah. So too, before BRASS AND DIAMONDS giving tzedakah, one’s money should be “…this is the terumah that you should treated as tevel, untithed produce. take: gold, silver, brass, diamonds” (Sh- Terumah literally means “lifting up.” emos 25:3, 7). Giving money to tzedakah elevates one’s The Torah seems to list the materials wealth, raising it to a higher dimension. of the Mishkan in descending order of Inevitably, this causes people to experi- their value: gold, silver and then brass. ence more bracha in all of their financial It is therefore surprising that the Torah endeavors. only lists diamonds after all of these oth- er items. Why are these precious stones HEARTFELT OFFERINGS listed last? “…every man who offers his heart In truth, all wealth belongs to Hash- should take My terumah” (Shemos em. He does not need our contributions 25:2). and merely lets us appropriate our own The Zohar writes that tzedakah only wealth to fulfill the mitzvah of tzeda- has the proper impact if one is an ish, kah. The amount of reward we receive
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