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In this week’s Parsha, Hashem instructs Moshe on the creation of the mishkan, based on the contributions of am yisrael needed in order to construct it. A very important lesson we can learn in Truma is the importance of giving tzedaka . The opening psukim state “Vayidaber Hashem el Moshe lemor: daber el b’nei yisrael vayikchu li trumah- Hashem spoke to Moses, saying: speak to the children of Israel and let them take for Me a portion” (25:1-2). It can be very difficult for many people to be generous with their hard-earned money..is it not human nature to fend for ourselves and then protect what we have toiled for? Yet, Hashem gave Moshe a large list of 15 materials He required from b’nei yisrael, including gold and silver, spices and gems in order to create a portable dwelling place. However, as King Solomon said in mishlei: “kchu musari vi’al kesef-take my rebuke and not money” (8:10) From here, we learn it’s more important to take the words of the torah to heart than expend our energies in amassing wealth and fortune. Ultimately, our material possessions can only be possessed in this world and can only bring us complications and strife, but torah is a possession we carry (and carries us) into the next world. As Rabbi Yaakov said in Pirkei Avot, “Haolam haze dome lifruzdor bifnei haolam haba;hataken atzmecha bifruzdor, k’dei shetikanes latraklin-This world is like a lobby before the world to come. Prepare yourself in the lobby, so that you may enter the banquet hall”. The money and possessions we have here are not things that we will be able to take into olam haba with us, but using them to help others will help us get there.

Looking back on the words of King Soloman “kchu musari - take my rebuke”, we see that it is important to not be lazy, and to act with zealousness as demonstrated by the active word “kchu-take”. We see that we must fulfill the mitzvot that we do with a pure heart and with happiness, otherwise no matter how much good we do, it will all be worthless. The same goes for the manner in which we give tzedaka. The Mishna outlines the four ways to give tzedaka in Pirkei Avot, the third of which being “Yiten vayitnu acherim-chasid. That he should give and others should give is pious”. When we give tzedaka, it should not be with a longing to be acknowledged, and gain recognition. For this reason, the opening pasuk contains the word “li” (”vayikchu li trumah”). “LI” to indicate that it is for Hashem, and not in order to flatter ourselves and boost our own ego. So that when we do give tzedaka , we do so quietly, with no one but Hashem knowing. As Rabi Yossi says in Pirkei Avot “v’chol ma’asecha yehiyu lishem shamayim- let all your deeds be done for the sake of heaven” (2:13).

The word “vayikchu” also conveys other matters of importance. The fact that the active word “take” is used as opposed to any other word with essentially the same instruction, like “let them give” teaches us that we should also try to get others to give tzedaka in addition to our own giving. As it says in the Gemara, “Gadol hama’ase yoter min ha’ase- He who causes a good deed to be done is greater than the one who does it”. This is, of course, not to say that we should not do mitzvot ourselves and merely encourage others to do them..conversely, it is imperative that we extend ourselves that tiny bit further and encourage and enable others to do mitzvot, as well.In doing so, we bring Hashem closer to us, as it says in tehillim “ki ya’amod liyamin evyon- for He stands to the right of the impoverished”(109:31)

According to the Toldot Yitzchak, the words “vayikchu li” is Hashem’s way of saying to us that by giving tzedaka, we are reinforcing our relationship with Hashem, as if we are ‘marrying’ Him, in the same way that a groom betroths his wife with a gift. One final possible explanation is that the word “take” is used to show that the amount of tzedaka we give is rewarded by Hashem greater than the amount we have given-it is like being reimbursed with interest! Every possession that we have here on this world in this life has been given to us,as if on loan, by Hashem. We are given free will, and have the choice to do whatever we desire with it. However, it is important for us to recognize that when we give tzedaka, we are merely acting as Hashem’s emissaries and delivering what He would want to give to the person to whom we are giving. We are merely the vessel through which Hashem betters their lot, and we should not be concerned that we are at loss..not only do we get proportionately rewarded but, chas v’shalom, if we were ever in a situation of need, we could only pray that someone would share the blessings that Hashem has bestowed upon them with us in the same way. As it says in tehillim, “ashrei mashkil el dal biyom ra’ah yimaltehu Hashem- fortunate is he who cares wisely for the needy. On the day of evil, Hashem will save Him” (41:2) Clearly, the merits of giving are inconceivably great!

I can’t even begin to say how bad I feel about not getting a parsha post out! I’ve just been so busy lately..we even had snow in Jerusalem!(see picture*)! Ok so this picture above is clearly not mine, if it were I would have had to dress up as a man and that would be highly sacrilegious, but I wish I COULD in fact take credit for it because it’s beautiful, and has a lot to do with a side point I want to make in this post
So this morning while I was heading down to daven, I was thinking about what to write, and these words popped out at me during P’sukei D’zimra : “Hanoten sheleg k’tzamer, kfor kaefer yifazer. Mashlich karcho kfitim, lifnei karato mi ya’amod? - He who gives snow like fleece, He scatters frost like ashes. He hurls His ice like crumbs-before His cold, who can stand?”(Tehillim kuf mem zayin-Psalm 147)** I never really noticed this allusion to winter weather before, especially when talking about Yerushalayim, as in this perek of tehillim, one of the last of the 150. This perek “places its primary focus on Jerusalem, the center from which holiness, redemption and torah will emanate,” “continuing the theme of redemption [of the psalms that precede it]“*** I found these verses in particular very interesting, and not just because I’ve been thinking about snow after these last few days! Generally, cold has negative connotations, and the words “hurls His ice” are almost frightening. The image it conjures (at least to me) is of anger, of ice being thrown, perhaps in punishment by a power of unimaginable magnitude. Of an unapproachable “cold” detached from us and so distant that, before it, one would be unable to stand.

And is that not the way some people view Hashem? Like a mere entity so far removed, it no longer has any effect or control on us, or care for us. As “the philosopher” in Yehuda Halevi’s Kuzari stated, there is no way G-d could POSSIBLY care about each and every individual person- He merely created something, an effector of sorts that catalysed other actions, resulting in our existence with no individual intent whatsoever involved. This view, however, is completely contrary to Jewish belief. Without our emunah, our Judaism could not stand. As we learn in Sefer V’ten Bracha (which is actually what I had originally planned to write about, but seeing as I got a little sidetracked, I think I’ll have to do it in a separate post after a little while so you don’t all get overwhelmed with Ashira-ness), when Hashem creates anything, be it a vegetable or an animal, He knows exactly where it’s going. He creates it with you, as an individual, in mind. For example, when he creates an apple, He has the specific intent of creating this apple for your benefit- it is like placing a stamp on it, and addressing it to you.

I tried to find any commentary I possibly could on this perek of tehillim, but there was not much out there I could use. However,according to Rashi, the words “like crumbs” is referring to the fact that Hashem is merciful and everything He does is proportionate-it is all in accordance to our burden. As he brings down from the Midrash Aggadah, Hashem would consider the lack of clothing on a poor man and therefore be lenient with him. As it says earlier in this perek, “moneh mispar lacochavim, lichulam shemot yikrah- He counts the number of the stars, to all of them He assigns names”** There are billions of stars-an innumerable and inconceivable amount, to us, yet Hashem counts each and every one and gives them a name. If Hashem can take the time to count and care for stars in His sky, how much more so would he care about each and every one of us,His children, individually? This however, does not take away from the frosty image created mid-perek.

Looking to the next verse, we find our answer: “Yishlach dvaro viyamsem, yashev ruchu yizlo mayim-He issues His command and it melts them, He blows His wind; the waters flow”** Despite the image we can create in our minds of Hashem ‘freezing us out’, we are thus reminded that it isn’t so-with just His words Hashem melts the ice He hurls. We can never forget the compassion and love Hashem has for us- for each of us on an individual level. We need to remember how special and blessed we are to be so close to Hashem, to have Him on our side, looking out for us. It’s easy to become jaded and to second guess whether or not Hashem is truly caring for us on the individual level, to get lost in a ’spiritual winter’ and lose sight of the truth while our eyes are blinded by the snow. But it’s imperative to keep in mind that we really ARE the lucky few, despite any bumps we may find in the road, as the perek finishes: “Lo asa chen l’chol goy, umishpatim bal yidaum,hallelukah! He did not not do so for any other nation, such judgments they know not . Halleluka!” **

For an English translation of Perek 147 in its entirety, click here: http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/16368/jewish/Chapter-147.htm

* http://www.tzipiyah.com/wp-content/plugins/hot-linked-image-cacher/upload/zioneocon.blogspot.com//kotelspasnowspawspadaavening.jpg
**Translation from the Artscroll Siddur Ohel Sarah-Women’s Siddur, Klein Edition
***The Artscroll Tehillim

PERSONAL GROWTH.
Big words, right? I’m pretty sure that you’ve all heard a thousand times that personal growth is what Judaism is allllllll about (I know I sure have). But do you ever stop and think what that even means? Sure, it’s a great ideal, but if I’m happy and comfortable where I’m at in my Judaism, shouldn’t that be enough? Why should I even bother pushing myself if I’ve found my own niche, my little happy place???
They say that growth is like riding a bike up a hill. The harder you persevere and push yourself, the further up the hill you go. But the second you stop trying, you roll back down-there is no such thing as just “taking a break”.
Now, when we are riding up that hill, things can get pretty tough. For those of us who have ever taken biology, we know that the anaerobic respiration occurring in our muscles results in a build up of lactic acid, which is the cause of soreness, muscle aches and cramps (can you believe I only got a B in science??). In English, that basically means that when we are using our muscles a lot and pushing them as much as we can, nasty gooky stuff is made that tries to force your muscles to stop their exertion, by way of making it uncomfortable and difficult-our own bodies act as an obstacle against itself. If we try and take this analogy and translate it into our own lives, (emphasis on the word “try” because I just made that metaphor up myself and I have absolutely no idea whatsoever if it will make sense to anyone but me :P) we see that the “muscle” here is us, its activity is our actions, and the “lactic acid” is our yetzer hara (evil inclination).

The harder we work on ourselves, the greater our inclination to do things we shouldn’t-just like the longer and harder a person were to work out, or ride their bicycle or whatever, the more lactic acid he’ll build up to deter him from using those muscles. I’ve heard before that Hashem only gives hardships in direct proportion to our strength and ability to overcome them. In other words, it’s kind of like a compliment from Hashem when He gives you a really difficult test-it means that He thinks you are on the madrega (level) at which you can handle and rise above. But it’s not so easy to keep going up the hill-in fact, the higher up you get, the steeper it may feel, until it feels as if the hurdles and hardships before you are insurmountable. It’s hard to keep your motivation and your perseverance against whichever odds may arise.

So today, I learned something beautiful that was brought down in Sefer Chofetz Chaim (which is what actually sparked this entire post). In Mesechet Shabos (104a) it says that “one who seeks to purify himself is granted heavenly assistance”. So, what could this “heavenly assistance” possibly refer to? The Tana D’vei Eliyahu Zuta answers: “If a person strives to be a tzaddik (righteous individual), Hashem will assign an angel to treat him like a tzaddik. If he sincerely strives to be a chassid (extremely righteous individual), Hashem will assign an angel to treat him like a chassid.”

These words teach a powerful lesson. It appears that merely having this desire burning like a fire in your belly seems to be enough! OK, not enough, but enough for an ANGEL, an emissary of Hashem Himself to treat you as what you desire to be. This shows that Hashem truly believes in us, He believes in our potential. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I really feel like no ordinary man could look into himself and think “Hmm, I could definitely be a tzaddik“, and then go for it and make it happen. The average man will look into himself and say “Who am I, just some regular everyday normal guy. No WAY could I ever get to the madrega of a tzaddik“. And then, he just gives up. Because it’s impossible, right? So why bother trying?

If Hashem sees this possibility in us based solely on our desire, obviously we should be able to see it in ourselves, too. I mean, come on. He’s G-D! He knows what He’s doing, and if He says we have potential, clearly we do. All it takes is for us to see that inside ourselves, and have the desire to reveal it. Our potential is already there, but it is up to us to act upon it. It is our responsibility to chip away at the stone and reveal the true beauty of the diamond inside waiting for us to reveal it. That diamond was always there, hidden underneath many layers of shmutz. If we look at it, perceive it as a rock and never chip away at it and clean it off, it will remain just a seemingly worthless rock. But if we take the time and persevere, slowly but surely we will break away the rough exterior and discover the stunning innate beauty that lay hidden all along. So what’s the nimshal? Each of us is like a rock. We merely need to recognize our own potential and hold fast through the trials and tribulations that come our way to expose our own inner diamond that lays waiting inside.

Let me start out by explaining why “shalom” is the absolute, most incredibly apropos word with which to start you out on the magical journey (yeah right) that will be my blog. Firstly, we all know it as the Hebrew equivalent to “hello”. Digging a little deeper, we see that the word “shalom” means “peace”-could there possibly be a better way to greet people than giving them a brocha that they should have peace? The reason why I have recently taken to saying shalom to just about every single person I see is, unfortunately, not nearly as virtuous…for some reason, my friends and I decided a little while ago that it would be REALLY funny to walk around saying it to people. We were in the rova, surrounded by tons of tourists in their groups from all over the world, following their tour guide who lead them with a gigantic flower (or something equally ridiculous and non-obstructive to the other people squeezing their way down the narrow stone streets) like children and their pied piper. So we walked around to every single Russian/Chinese/French/*insert any nationality in the world here* group, holding up the peace sign, saying “shalom, welcome to Jerusalem” (except it came out more like “sha-lome, welcome to juuu-ru-salem”, since we had a hard time properly pronouncing the words while simultaneously making disturbingly weird faces). Good old tourists. They thought it was cute.
Some of them even took pictures.

Now here’s what I love about Israel…that’s what people are like! Even though we find it funny to go around acting dumb, we really ARE happy to welcome people to Jerusalem, to welcome them home. Because no matter how old they are, no matter where they come from, THIS is their home. We are their family. That’s why it’s so cool to be Jewish, and it’s something my non-Jewish friends could never possibly understand. Not that I blame them..how could they possibly even ATTEMPT to comprehend the network we have all over the world? I could go to just about any country in the world with no place to stay, no food to eat, and somehow manage to find food and lodging with some awesome family who don’t even realise their own generosity-by us, it just seems to be a way of life.

There is no other place in the world where you could possibly feel that connection more than here, in the holy land of our fathers, the land of milk and honey, the promised land, the….ok I’m drawing a blank for more cliche descriptors, if you can think of any others please feel free to send them to me. Most creative answerer gets cookies. (Alright, you caught me there are no cookies, so sue me). ANYWAYS, what I was trying to get at is that, basically, Israel is the bomb. For real. Even the air you breathe here is holy. You walk the streets, and you are connected to almost every person you see. (and I’m not just talking in terms of Jewish geography connections) These people speak your language. They eat the food you eat, they dress the way you dress, they face the same hardships that you do..I could go on and on, but the bottom line is: they GET you. And in a secular world, that can be a pretty hard thing to find.

Over Chanukah, I was staying with two friends at one of my friend’s family’s apartment the night before we all headed off for a trip the next day. At around 2 in the morning, my friend and I realised that we had forgotten our mishnayot back at our place. We freaked out because we had to finish our mesechet before our trip would be over (we were learning for someone’s zchus and we were told we had to finish what we had taken on before the shloshim were over). We decided to grab a cab off the road, go back and pick it up, even though we had to get up to leave in a few hours. We hailed a taxi and got in. Our driver was kind enough to make us a good deal for the round trip, especially after he heard where we were going (also, we drive a pretty hard bargain) On the way there, he started talking about Chanukah. Hearing that we spoke English, he told us it was time for HIM to give US an English lesson. He asked us: “what do we celebrate on Chanukah?” We started to explain the miracle of the oil, the miracle of the battle. He answered “Ok, so basically, we celebrate the fact that Hashem made MIRACLES for us, right?” He then told us to “think in Hebrew”, and broke it down: “miracle:mi-rak Kel! Who else but G-d?” (The words mi rak kel literally translate to “who, only G-d”)

Moments like that one define the concepts of Israel and Judaism for me, which is why I decided to start off my blog with them. I’m all about achdus. I believe in loving every Jew, no matter what their affiliation, ethnicity or level of religiousness, in Eretz Yisrael as our homeland, and I believe these are intrinsically Jewish concepts. I believe that every ben-adam is my brother, a child of Hashem created b’tzelem Elokim, and that my “family” welcomes everyone with such open arms because of this belief. I believe in balancing life as a human being and life as a Jew, and that it IS possible to walk the tightrope between the secular and Jewish worlds. And I’d be really, really happy if you stick around and bare with me as I try to explore this concept! (also really flattered. I don’t really see why anyone in their right mind would want to spend their time reading things I’ve written, so PROPS to you if you held out this long!) (Just kidding. Please read my blog. I promise I’ll try to be funny.)