CONGREGATION
MELECH YISRAEL OF TORONTO
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WEEKLY TORAH PORTION |
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CONGREGATION
MELECH YISRAEL OF TORONTO |
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Devarim {14:22} You shall surely tithe all the increase of your seed, that which comes forth from the field year by year. {14:23} You shall eat before HaShem your G-D, in the place which he shall choose, to cause His Name to dwell there, the tithe of your grain, of your new wine, and of your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock; that you may learn to fear HaShem your G-D always. {14:24} If the way be too long for you, so that you are not able to carry it, because the place is too far from you, which HaShem your G-D shall choose, to set His Name there, when HaShem your G-D shall bless you; {14:25} then shall you turn it into money, and bind up the money in your hand, and shall go to the place which HaShem your G-D shall choose: {14:26} and you shall bestow the money for whatever your nefesh (soul) desires, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatever your nefesh asks of you; and you shall eat there before HaShem your G-D, and you shall rejoice, you and your household. {14:27} The Levite who is within your gates, you shall not forsake him; for he has no portion, nor inheritance with you. {14:28} At the end of every three years you shall bring forth all the tithe of your increase in the same year, and shall lay it up within your gates: {14:29} and the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the sojourner, and the 'ab(less) (fatherless), and the widow, who are within your gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that HaShem your G-D may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do. The principle of tithing is deeply ingrained in Scripture. Biblically, when all the required tithes were add up the total came to approximately twenty three percent of ones gross income and this was in addition to the half shekel Temple tax. Even when Yisrael (Israel) came under the heavy taxation of the Roman government they were not released by G-d from their obligation to give their tithes. Nowhere in Scripture does G-d say that you should give your tithe only if you are not being taxed by the government. Tithing is a spiritual obligation for a child of G-d! This portion of Scripture from this week’s Parasha is consistent with what the entire Bible teaches about giving: Corintim Bet (2 Corinthians) {9:5} So I thought it necessary to urge the brethren that they would go on ahead to you and arrange beforehand your previously promised bountiful gift, that the same might be ready as a bountiful gift, and not affected by covetousness. {9:6} Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. {9:7} Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for G-d loves a cheerful giver. {9:8} And G-d is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; {9:9} as it is written, "He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor, His righteousness abides forever." {9:10} Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; {9:11} you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to G-d. If you are holding back on your giving, if you are not giving generously and with a joyous heart, you are not going to receive! This teaching is also consistent in Scripture! Malachi {3:10} Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My House, and prove Me now herewith, says Ad-ni Tzvaot (the L-rd of Hosts), if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Again and again we consistently get the same message from HaShem, “Give and it shall be given back to you.” Some people have a fear of letting go of their money, but G-d says, “No! If you are My child you have to give.” The nature of G-d is one of a giver. One of His primary characteristics is that He gives bountifully. Therefore, if you want to be Mashiach (Messiah) like then you must have that same G-d like characteristic. Giving needs to be one of your primary characteristics! Mishlei (Proverbs) {11:24} There is that scatters, and yet increases; and there is that withholds more than they should, but it tends to poverty. {11:25} The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that waters shall himself be watered. “The liberal soul....” These words in verse 25 are translated from the Hebrew words “Nefesh B’racha,” which actually mean “The soul that blesses.” In other words, it is not that as a believer you just give, but as a believer giving is in your soul. Giving is not something you do, it is who you are! We are not in this world to get, to take or to manipulate. We are here to bless. Yes, that is the purpose of our salvation; to be a nefesh b’racha. If you are receiving, anything from anywhere, then it is G-d who is doing the giving. You are receiving therefore, so that you can give, and a soul that gives is a soul that is going to be blessed. The more you want your life to be a blessing the more you’ll give. The more you give the more you will be blessed. It is a win-win situation. A giving soul will be a happy soul because G-d created us to give; to be a blessing to others. Here are some of the benefits that will accrue to you when you have a nefesh b’racha: if you lose soothing it will not affect you, if something is stolen from you, it will not matter, because it was not yours in the first place, and you will not live a life of fear. But most of all you will be giving the positive testimony that you are being blessed. Mishlei {11:25} ...and he that waters shall himself be watered. Selfishness can never be blessed. However, if you set your heart to be a blessing through giving generously you will not be able to avoid being blessed by G-d. You will be blessed in your home, at your job, with your time; in all things you will be blessed. Baruch HaShem Rabbi Ya'acov Farber |
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