Parshas Reay

Hi everyone, I hope this helps you go into your Shabbos more prepared and I hope you learn something new!

This week’s Parsha is called, Parshas Reay (RI-AY). Parshas Reay discusses many important topics: Kosher food, a false prophet, giving charity (Tzedaka,) and many more. We will go over the topic of giving Tzedaka (TZ-E-DUH-KUH) charity.

HaRav Mordechai Katz zt”l writes in his outstanding sefer “Lilmode Ul’lamed” the importance of giving Tzedaka. He says that even if a person is not doing great financially he should still give to the poor. He gives a beautiful mushul (story/analogy) to explain: There was once a very wealthy man who had every pleasure life could possibly offer. He had a successful business, a devoted wife, and a spacious and comfortable home. One evening while that couple was eating dinner there was a knock at the door. So the man answered the door and found a poor man. The poor man begged for just a few morsels of food. The man yelled at the poor man, “How about you get a job and earn a living, instead of living off others to feed you!” and he slammed the door in the poor man’s face. Over the next few week’s the man’s business began to go down. And before he knew it he lost job, his clothing, and his beautiful home. The wife found a job that she could make some money at to pay for food, but the man was so ashamed and embarrassed that he wasn’t able to support her that they got divorced. A few months went by and the wife of the man had remarried to another wealthy man. They were eating dinner one evening and the door bell rang. The husband opened the door to find a poor man in tattered clothing. The poor man asked for a little food. When the poor man walked out of the house (or mansion) he left with enough food for weeks. When the husband sat down at the table his wife had a strange expression on her face. She explained that was her first husband. “He looked so thin and pale, that I hardly recognized him.” She exclaimed. The husband thought for a moment and asked her if she remembered a beggar that once showed up at her door and was turned down. “That was me! Somehow our fortunes must have gotten flipped.” He said. He asked her if she thought there was a reason for it and she said there was. She said quoting a passuk in Mishlei 21.13 “He who closes his ears to the cry of the poor will himself cry out and not be heard.”

We learn that when judging others we should be understanding and gentle and Hashem will deal with us in a gentle and understanding way. Similarly, with charity Hashem entrusts us with money that is not ours but we are the agents assigned to give it to the poor. As long as we are willing to give it generously and with enthusiasm then, Hashem will have reason to be generous with what he gives us.

May we learn from this the important lesson of Tzedaka and in any and every opportunity we have to give Tzedaka, Hashem should see to it even when we are struggling financially that we give knowing that it’s the right thing to do! And he should be generous with the money he provides us with!

- Amen!

Have a great Shabbos and weekend!

Stay tuned for next week’s Parsha called, Parshas Shoftim.