Parshas Teruma 5775

Candle Lighting Time: 5:24 pm

February 20, 2015

Volume 11 Issue 15

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	Dvar Torah

	No Pain, No Gain By Rabbi Yakir Schechter The verses in the beginning of the parsha tell us of the various materials that were donated for the construction of the Mishkan. They included gold, silver, copper, leather, oil and more, totaling eleven raw materials. At the end of the list appear two additional items: the shoham stones and the stones for the settings, both to be used for the Kohen's breastplate. The Ohr Hachaim points out the peculiarity of the placement of these two sets of stones in the verses. Ostensibly, precious stones are the most valuable, even more valuable than gold. Why, then, are they mentioned at the end of the list? It would have made more sense to place them at the beginning! In order to appreciate what the Torah is teaching us we need to look ahead in Parshas Vayakel to see who made these donations. In chapter 35 verses 21-29 the Torah records that everyone donated whatever they wished from the aforementioned list (Rashi in our parsha alludes to this - see chapter 25 verse 3). However, in verse 27 it says that it was specifically the Nesiem, the tribal leaders, who brought the stones. The Gemara in Yoma (75a) says that the stones were delivered by the ananei hakavod (the clouds of glory). The tribal leaders then gathered the stones and brought them to Moshe for the Mishkan. The Ohr Hachaim explains that those who donated the other materials suffered some loss by donating their personal items. The tribal leaders, however, incurred no loss. It took little effort to make their donation and therefore it was indeed less valuable than the other materials. It is for this reason that their donation is listed last. From here we learn a tremendous lesson. The value of something is much greater when it was earned through hard work and sacrifice. As Chazal say, l'fum tza'ara agra - through the pain and suffering comes the reward. Though this idea can be applied to many areas, perhaps one of the most important is learning Torah. While learning Torah may be tough at times, the reward we get by pushing on and toiling in Torah is invaluable. There is a well-known story said over in the name of Rav Yisroel Zev Gustman zt"l. Someone once came to him and posited the following: the law is that one must stand up for a Torah scholar in honor of the Torah that he knows. The Gemara also tells us that a child in utero is taught the entire Torah. Perhaps the law should be that one is required to stand up for an expectant woman in honor of the Torah that her unborn baby knows. Rav Gustman cleverly answered that the Torah knowledge of the unborn baby is worth much less since no toil and effort was exerted in its acquisition and is thus undeserving of such respect. Whether one learns five minutes a day, five hours a day, or fifteen hours, one must always remember the lesson of the stones. May Hashem give us the strength to toil over the Torah with vigor, fortitude, and excitement.

Dvar Halacha

The Laws of Purim part 3

By Rabbi Yochanan Eskenazi

Every person is required to give matanos l'evyonim to two separate aniyim poor people (Shulchan Aruch 694:1). Women are also obligated (Rama 695). Many opinions hold that poor people are also obligated (Mishneh Berurah 694:1). Two matanos are the minimal obligation (Mishneh Berurah 694:3). It is preferable to give more money to the poor than it is to spend on seudas Purim and mishloach manos, because there is greater simcha (joy) than being me'samach (gladden) the hearts of poor people, widows, and orphans, and whoever brings them simcha is comparable to the Omnipresence (Mishneh Berurah 694:3 quoting the Rambam).

One is supposed to give a davar chashuv (respectable amount) (Mishneh Berurah 694:2). There is a dispute amongst the Poskim how much this amount is. Some Poskim hold the amount should be equivalent of the price to buy a respectable meal [for example, 2 slices of pizza and a drink] (Rabbi Herschel Welcher shlit"a, Adar 5772). According to Harav Shmuel Kamenetsky,shlit"a, $1 is considered a davar chashuv (Koveitz Halachos 16:2). When Harav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt"l was asked how much one is required to give, he would advise just to make sure, one should give a davar chashuv for both the giver and receiver (Halichos Shlomo Moadim 2:19:ftnt. 62).

One should give matonos ev'yonim on Purim day and not by night (Mishneh Berurah 695:22, Be'ur Halachah 694:1 s.v. l'shnei aniyim). One may write a check for ma'tanos l'evyonim even if it cannot be cashed that day (Koveitz Halachos 16:3 & ftnt. 3 quoting Harav Moshe Feinstein, zt"l). One should not use maaser money for ma'tanos l'evyonim, however, any additional amount of money more than the minimum obligation may come from maaser money (Mishneh Berurah 694:3).

The Shulchan Aruch [694:3] rules "anyone who sticks out his hand [for money] you should give him". In other words this means that on Purim anyone who asks you for money you should give him [and you do not need to check out if he is really a poor or not]. This halachah only applies to someone who is collecting for himself, however if he is collecting for an organization one does not need to give them (Koveitz Halachos 16:1).

Every person is obligated to send two food [or drink] items to one person, as stated in Megillas Esther [9:19] "U'mishalaich manos ish leray'ahu" (Shulchan Aruch 695:4). Both items should be given together at the same time (Koveitz Halachos 17:18 & ftnt. 19 quoting Reb Y.S. Eliyashuv, zt"l). Whoever does more than this, is praiseworthy (Shulchan Aruch 695:4). When one gives his friend mishloach manos, this causes friendship (Shu"T Binyan Tzion 44). The two foods should be two separatetypes of food, but they do not have to be two separate brachos (Koveitz Halachos 17:2). It is preferable to send a food item that is useable as is [and will not need to be cooked] (Mishneh Berurah 695:20). Additionally, they should be something that is acceptable to give to a guest that visits [e.g., a piece of cake, as opposed to just one candy] (Koveitz Halachos 17:6-12). One has only fulfilled his obligation, if the recipient receives his mishloach manos on Purim day (Rama 695:4). Therefore, if one sends mishloach manos before Purim, however the recipient did not receive it until Purim, one has fulfilled his obligation.

There is an opinion that one can only be fulfill his mitzvah of mishloach manos if it is delivered via a shliach (messenger) (Mishneh Berurah 695:18 quoting Shu"T Binyan Tzion 44). The reason is, that Posuk [Esther 9:19] says "U'mishloach" implies that it needs to be sent. Therefore, many people are careful to give at least one mishloach manos via a messenger, to try to fulfill one's obligation according to all opinions.

One should not send mishloach manos to an avel (someone who is in the 12 month mourning period) (Rama 696:6). If someone makes a stipulation that the mishloach manos is for the entire family [and not specifically for the avel] it is ok to send it (Koveitz Halachos 17:41). If one wrongfully sends mishloach manos to an avel [exclusively], the avel may accept it (Koveitz Halachos 17:40). An avel may send mishloach manos to as many people as he normally would have (Koveitz Halachos 17:43).

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