Rabbi's Blog

This week's Dvar Torah is sponsored by Stephen and Manijeh Breskin in memory of Manijeh's father, Mr. Morad Shadpour, Mordechai Ben Avraham, on his Yarhzeit this Sunday, the 22nd of Elul.

That time of year is now just around the corner: Rosh Hashana will be here in only a few days and each of us is beginning to gear up and prepare ourselves, focusing on the power of Teshuva, Tzedakah, U'Tefillah, repentance, charity and prayer. Teshuva, repentance is a mind-set: 'I know I have sinned and I regret doing so. I will try not to give in to my Yetzer Hara again. Tzedakah and giving charity is a bit less difficult. I just need to whip out my check book and give money to some worthy causes. Tefillah, prayer, on the other hand, is something we beseech God for; it's looking to the future. It's not about 'my' mind-set or charity which is within my control to give or not to give. It's a hope that Hashem will not only hear and listen to my prayers; it's a plea that HE will answer me as well.

I can start working on Teshuva and Tzedakah even before Rosh Hashana begins, but what about the prayers? How can I begin to work on my tefillos for the coming year? The answer to this is found in this week's parsha Ki Savo. In Perek 26 Passuk 11 the Torah states "V'Samachta B'chal HaTov Asher Nassan L'cha Hashem Elokecha U'lBeisecha, Ata V'Halevi V'Hager Asher B'Kirbecha". "You shall rejoice with all the goodness that Hashem, your God, has given to you and to your household - you and the Levite and the convert who is in your midst". The wording 'And you shall rejoice' is almost like a commandment that Hashem is forcing upon us. How is it possible to be commanded 'be happy'?

God is suggesting that we experience happiness, genuine joy, during the fulfillment of the Mitzva of Bikkurim, the act of bringing of the first fruits to the Temple in Jerusalem. It might appear difficult to understand why God needs to command us to rejoice as this is not like other commands that are an action to perform or avoid. Usually, someone who has been blessed with all good and is appreciative of all with which he has been blessed will automatically be 'happy' even without being told to "be happy". If, Heaven forbid, in the opposite scenario where a person feels he has not been blessed and sees the blessings bestowed upon others, while that person may be happy for others, in his heart will he feel any genuine joy?

During the bringing of the Bikkurim to Yerushalayim, there's no question there were Jews of great wealth bringing their first fruits. The very wealthy Jews brought an abundance of first fruits from all of the seven species for which Israel is praised.(Bikkurim are only brought from the seven species that the land of Israel is praised for in Devarim 8:8). They brought fruits from their fields, from their vineyards and from their orchards and placed them in baskets of silver and gold. Those who were unable to bring such quantities of first fruits would surely have felt some resentment towards those who were so wealthy. In fact, they may even have harbored some anger towards God that others had more than they. If their hearts were full of anger, there surely was no room for simcha /joy in one's heart.

This is exactly why Hashem commands us to be happy. As it says in Pirkei Avos: "Eizehu Ashir Hasameach b'chelko: ""Who is wealthy? One who is happy with his lot and removes the jealousy from his heart". The level of joy should be so great that a person feels he has everything in the world; that he is not lacking. If a person views his worldly possessions as gifts from God, and that the wealthy are also receiving gifts from Hashem then we trust that Hashem knows what He is doing. Each person should accept and receive his gifts from Hashem with a smile, appreciating each gift as precious.

An additional key point is to understand who else is mentioned in the verse with "you" none other than the Levite and the Ger, the convert. Perhaps our lot is similar to the Levi and the convert who did not receive a portion in the land of Israel, and nevertheless were happy. Joy for the Levi is not anything physical. It is the ability to serve in the Beis Hamikdash.The convert's joy centers around the fact that he joined the ranks of the Jewish people. So, too, an individual who has minimal worldly possessions should have a simchas Hanefesh, a rejoicing of the soul in being able to worship Hashem. Perhaps Hashem gives a person less in order that he will have more time to focus on his spiritual energy and to work on his Avodas Hashem, his service to God. As Chazal teach us "Marbeh Nechasim Marbeh Daagah" "With more physical possessions comes more worry".

As Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur approach we can work on our Tefilla as well as focus on charity and repentance. Later on in the parsha the Torah expresses the one main reason why the Tochacha, the reprimands, and the curses came upon the Jewish people. This was due to a lack of happiness when we served Hashem. Simcha is in the mind of a person; it can either bring a curse or a blessing to one's life.

As we prepare for the New Year and start to focus on how we want this year to be different, we need to change our mind-sets, appreciating the gifts with which we have been provided and to work to understand the true meaning of being happy with what we have. I know many people who, while blessed with monetary wealth are sad and lonely, while others possess few material assets but are deeply happy people. The preparation for the New Year and its expectations should not necessarily be directed towards what Hashem gives to ME but rather to experiencing an honest understanding of contentment with whatever Hashem has bestowed upon me.

Ah Gut Shabbos Rabbi Avram Bogopulsky