News

The following story is told about Rav Moshe Leib Sassover zt”l when he moved the first time from Sassov to the city of Apt. As Rav Moshe Leib and his family were traveling in their carriage, they came across two men in a horse and wagon.

There are certain people who give tz’dakah because they feel it is a calling in life. Others give because they are pressured to donate, or to show the world just how generous they are. Some people like to see their money being put to immediate use and are happy to donate to poor people or organizations that assist the indigent.

Our Sages teach us that the Kabalas HaTorah of our forefathers, thousands of years ago, was not an isolated incident. In fact, in every generation, we revisit this “kabbalah” – this unique acceptance of Torah primacy in our lives; and in return, the Torah uplifts us, guides us, and protects us. With our great leaders showing us the way, each and every Jew, from the simplest to the most scholarly, can have an impact on the world, not only for himself and his family, but with the power of his “kabalas haTorah” on any level, he can affect the lives of others in a great and meaningful way.

Chazal quote a midrash that the reason why Moshe Rabbeinu’s name does not appear in the entire Parshas T’tzaveh is because, after the sin of the Golden Calf, Hashem intended to eradicate the Jewish people and create a new nation out of Moshe’s descendants.

If a man steals an ox and slaughters or sells it, he must repay the animal’s owner five times its worth. However, if he steals a sheep and slaughters or sells it, he must repay the owner only four times its worth. Why does he pay less for the sheep? Rashi quotes the answer from the Gemara. It is somewhat degrading to the thief when he carries the sheep away on his shoulders. The Torah considers this embarrassment as a partial compensation for the theft. Therefore, the thief pays a reduced fine.

Throughout the ages, many a Jewish community has encountered enemies comparable to the evil Haman of the Purim story. Sometimes the Jews succumbed to his persecutions, Rachamana litzlan; in other instances, there was a reversal of fortune, and they were saved. At such times, a Purim Katan, a local Purim, would be enacted. Its observance on that same date in future years would serve to commemorate their deliverance from impending disaster. Where the sequence of events rendered it appropriate, a day of fasting was instituted on the day previous to the new Purim.