Parshas Tetzaveh 5777
QUESTION:
Why is it repeated three times that the Jews did not take any spoils, U'babiza lo sholchu es yodum?
ANSWER:
So why it's exactly three times, this I have to investigate. But why it's so important and has to be emphasized, was for the purpose of showing it was Am Kadosh. We say that, ki Am Kadosh ato La'shem Elokecho, it was a holy nation. They were doing a mitzvah of mechiyas Amalek, they wanted to wipe out Amalek as much as they could, and they didn't want it to be shelo lishama. If you destroy the Amaleiki and take his money then it's an ulterior motive. And it's emphasized; it was a kiddush Hashem to the Umos Haolam. The Umos Haolam saw that the Jew was not out for money; he was out for justice. Those who wantedhis blood, he avenged himself justly, and that's all. And the money was lying there for the people to take.
And by the way, it was good politics too. So when the whole populace came and the Jews allowed them free reign, the people walked into the homes of the slain Amoleikim and they took whatever they wanted, everybody now was happy with the Jews. So from all sides it was a smart move to do. Therefore, U'babiza lo sholchu es yodum, it was a kiddush Hashem, and was lishmo, and it got them in good with the Umos Haolam.
Question #23
QUESTION:
M'shenichnas Adar Marbim B'simcha. When Adar comes in we increase joy. Does it apply even after Purim?
ANSWER:
I want to say something to you. It applies to all year around, until next Erev Purim. Now I will explain that. When Adar comes in, you are expected to stockpile Simcha. You have to gain so much happiness, so much optimism, so much fire of enthusiasm in your blood, that it's going to last you until next year Adar. It doesn't mean that you have to stop Simcha. Truth is, if you try to create Simcha, at first it's easier. As the days go by, the effort finally weakens and subsides, because the Gevuros Hanefesh, their will power, finally weakens. So eventually people again, slip back into the humdrum of everyday life, and forget about Simcha.
Every year we renew the effort. But it doesn't mean that it stops at a certain time. M'shenichnas Adar , we renew the effort to gain Simcha. Adar, it's Purim and it's Pesach, we should continue all year round, like they sing in the Yeshivos on Purim. "A'gantz Yor Frieliech", all year you should be Happy. And that's why the Rama, at the end of Hilchos Purim, he says, Vtov Lev Mishteh Tomid. A man of a merry heart, is always at a party. That's how he concludes the laws of Purim. So when people see the laws of Purim, and they come to the end, they might be sad, it's finished with the period of joy. No, he says, it's just the beginning, you have a Tov Lev, it's Deah, you will learn the truth of Hashem , the truths of the Torah. You will learn how to live properly, then you are happy all the days of your life. It will be Kol Rinah V'yeshua B'ohelai Tzadikim.
Question #24
QUESTION:
What should be the attitude of Tzedaka, especially on Purim?
ANSWER:
I must admit I don't understand the question, but Tzedaka, you have to know, is taking not giving. The truth is, whenever you put in money in Tzedaka, it's a deposit in your account. When Munbaz, who was a prince of a wealthy house, a royal house, he inherited a great deal of property. And he started distributing his money to poor people, so, "Chuvru Uluv Echad Ubais Uchiv",(Baba Basra 11a) his relatives came together and said "Avosaicho Ganzu", your forefathers stored up all this wealth, and you are wasting it? He said "My forefathers stored up the wealth in a place where it wasn't safe. I am depositing in a place where it's going to keep". So you put money in the bank of Heaven, it's your money. All the other money is not yours, Oh No.
Here is a rich man, and he suddenly dies, or he slowly dies, it makes no difference. He becomes a pauper. By law he doesn't own a thing, by law he is a pauper. But when a man has put money in the bank of Heaven, he never can become pauperized, he remains rich forever. The money is there. And not only is it there, but is gaining great interest constantly, compounded every day. And therefore that is the attitude towards Tzedaka.
On Purim, Purim is a time, when we want to help first of all the poor people celebrate Purim, not only we should be happy, we want everybody to be happy. So that's why its important to help people be happy on Purim. If they need money, give them money. But in addition , Purim is a time to show, that we want to acquire the merit of being redeemed, we were redeemed by Hakadosh Baruch Hu, and Tzedaka is a redemption. Everybody knows the Passuk.."Tzedaka Tatsil Memaves", Tzedaka is redemption money. And therefore we pay redemption money for Pidyon Nafsheinu, for Pedus Nafsheinu.
Good Shabbos To All
This is transcribed from questions that were posed to Harav Miller by the audience at the Thursday night lectures.
To listen to the audio of this Q & A please dial: 201-676-3210
|
Important Numbers
