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IN LOVING MEMORY OF SARAH STELLA BAS YEHUDA MARCUS a.h. Money, Money, MoneyThrough what good deeds do the wealthy of Eretz Yisrael merit their great wealth? Because they faithfully tithe their crops as the verse says: "Tithe, you shall tithe." The double use of this verse teaches: Tithe so that you shall become wealthy (119a). The Torah instructs the Cohanim to bless Bnei Yisrael. "May Hashem bless you and watch over you. (Devarim 6.24) Rashi explains that you should have many possessions, and also that Hashem will protect those possessions from theft. Rabbi Z. S. Suchard shlita [Rav of Sandton, Johannesburg] suggests that this blessing follows the portion of the nazir because the Torah wants to teach us that possessions are a good thing. Why should a Jew not be comfortable? It is not necessary for one to live as a nazir with deprivations but rather to enjoy the world and its benefits. Only, one must live according to the laws of the Torah in order to allow for our earthly gifts. This then is the meaning of that Hashem will watch over you. He will see to it that one does not lose one's sense of Judaism through having so many possessions. This then, is the essence of the priestly blessings, to be wealthy and to remain a G-d fearing Jew. Baron Rothschild was asked what he was worth. He mentioned a figure in the thousands. His friends remarked that he was worth millions. "No," replied Rothschild, "I am only worth what I give to charity." (Your Guide to Life p. 169) Please note that Halacha Lemaaseh should not be derived from this article. For halachic matters please consult your rabbi. |
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