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Our parsha tells us that as Bnei Yisrael prepared to exit Egypt, Moshe took the bones of Yosef with him (his coffin had been put in the Nile) for reburial in Israel, as Yosef had requested two centuries earlier. Says G’mara Sota: "While the people were busy gathering gold, silver and other precious objects (from the Egyptians), Moshe was gathering Mitzvot."
Interesting. Just what would the people do with these items in the desert? What could they "buy" with it? True, they could donate it for the Mishkan (the gold Menora, the silver trumpets, etc) but it is the rare person who davka collects money in order to give it away, even if he gets public recognition for his charitable act.
So we see that the acquisition of wealth has intrinsic value for many people; perhaps they feel secure with it, perhaps they believe they will be respected by others if they are rich. Indeed, some of our greatest sages were very wealthy: Rav Yehuda HaNasi, Abravanel and Rashi come to mind; Rav Soloveicheik was also quite "well off." There is even a belief that, since prosperity comes only from Hashem, being wealthy is an indication that this person has been specifically blessed by G-d, and so his wealth may be worn as a badge of honor.
But Moshe qualifies this a bit by showing the people, through his precise attention to Yosef’s wishes, that Mitzvot are also of great – or even greater – value. Every act of chesed is a diamond; every act of piety is a gold nugget. And their value transcends this world; for while you can’t take your money with you when you die - as they say, there are no pockets in burial shrouds/tachrichim! - your Mitzvot accompany you to Olam Haba and pay for your "entrance ticket" there.
Furthermore, Hashem promises that we will not suffer any monetary loss whatsoever due to our performance of Mitzvot. To prove the point, G-d tells Moshe, "p’sal l’cha;"YOU, not Me. will hew the 2nd set of Luchot!" As a by-product of doing so, Moshe collected the chips that came off the Luchot – which were made of precious stone – and so he had more than his share of material wealth as well. Hashem provides!
When the eternal brachot are given to Yakov and Esav by father Yitzchak, each blessing contains the promise of the "fat of the land" (materialism) as well as the "dew of Heaven," (spirituality). The only difference between them? Which one comes first - which one is primary.
That consideration, then and now, is for all of us to choose.
Rabbi Stewart Weiss
Was ordained at the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Illinois, and led congregations in Chicago and Dallas prior to making Aliyah in 1992. He directs the Jewish Outreach Center in Ra'anana, helping to facilitate the spiritual absorption of new olim.
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P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
