Shabbos Parashas Re'eh - 5778

Shabbos Parashas Re'eh - 5778

Rabbi Hal Miller

You shall surely give him, and let your heart not feel bad when you give him, for in

return for this, Hashem your God will bless you in all your deeds. [Devarim 15:10]

Throughout the Torah we find commandments to be charitable. Here we have yet

another entire section of verses on point. What is different here that we should see

it emphasized yet again? The verse that follows even says, "For destitute people

will not cease to exist in the land", thus one has to wonder whether giving charity

makes sense since it will never end the problem of poverty. If giving to the poor

does not improve their situation, why should we give what we have worked hard to

earn?

This Shabbos is Rosh Chodesh Elul. This month leads up to Rosh Hashana and

Yom Kippur. The entire month is dedicated to the concept of teshuvah, return to the

laws of God. This concept is, in fact, the answer to our question.

Nachshoni comments upon the social system that our parsha sets up for us. He

says that, "While property is indeed private, there are limitations on how one may

use it. The Torah refers to a person who considers his money as belonging to him

alone, to do with as he sees fit, as a wicked or worthless person." He goes on to

note that our parsha also forbids withholding loans from the poor even shortly before

shemittah, when the debt is likely to be canceled without being repaid.

Our parsha also discusses making God's resting place on earth, referring to the

Mishkan. Shem MiShmuel asks, do we really believe that God will 'rest' on earth?

He answers that, yes of course we do. Not so much in a physical sense, but in a

spiritual one, meaning within us.

We know from the story of Creation that everything material was made by God, and

thus everything belongs to Him. He chooses to whom He will distribute each item,

then commands us to use it in a specific way. We are merely custodians, bound to

apply His resources however He directs. If we do so, we will be rewarded in the

World to Come, and perhaps also in this world.

If mankind were ever to reach a point in this world where there no longer existed a

need for charity, then this entire system breaks down. At that point we begin to look

like masters of our own resources and fate, which is a rejection of God's Presence

among us. The intent is not that we reach the ideal society in this world, but that we

constantly strive toward it in order to build that in the World to Come.

Since these natural human tendencies of acting as masters over the resources we

were assigned or over the poor among us are not going away on their own, it falls to

us to recognize and address our behavior in falling into those tendencies, and correct

ourselves, in other words, return to God, allow Him a place to rest here in this world,

within us.

There is a custom that throughout Elul we wish our friends health and success, and

that we ask that they be blessed with the merit for a good new year. May all of you

be so honored!