Yesterday we mentioned the concept of connecting Purim to Pesach. Well, there is another connection. The first halacha brought down by the Rama in Shulchan Aruch, in the laws of Pesach is
ומנהג לקנות חטים לחלקן לעניים לצורך פסח
There is a custom to buy wheat and give it out to the poor before Pesach. This is known as Kimcha D’Pischa, which means flour for Pesach. It is interesting that this is right after Purim, after we gave out who knows how much money for Matanot L’Evyonim; and now we say it’s time to start raising money for Pesach! Isn’t that like double dipping? How can we expect people to keep on giving? So, I would like to share with you a Rambam in Hilchot Sedaka, in the laws of Matnat Aniyim ( gifts for the poor) perek י
חייבין אנו להזהר במצות צדקה יותר מכל מצות עשה
We have to moe careful with the mitzva of Sedaka than all positive commandments.
That’s a heavy statement! That’s more than Tefilin, more than mezuzah, more than Matzot! Why? Because Sedaka is a sign that we come from Avraham Avinu. It says that Avraham was going to command his children to give Sedaka, and the only way our religion survives is with Sedaka. The Geula/ redemption will come because of Sedaka!
Some might say- Sedaka, sedaka Sedaka- how can I do it all?
Well, the Rambam says this is where bitachon comes in-
לעולם אין אדם מעני מן הצדקה
A person will never become poor from giving charity
ואין דבר רע ולא היזק נגלל בשביל הצדקה
And no damage or harm can come from Sedaka.
Sedaka can only be a catalyst for good.
As it says, והיה מעשה הצדקה שלום
The act of Sedaka will bring peace.
Furthermore, כל המרחם מרחמין עליו if you have mercy on others, G-d will have mercy on you.
He quotes the following pasukim:
וכל ישראל והנלוה עליהם כאחים הם
All of Yisrael are brothers
בנים אתם לה' אלהיכם
We are all Hashem’s children
If we are all Hashem’s children, then we are all brothers. And Rambam continues
ואם לא ירחם האח על האח מי ירחם עליו
If a brother doesn’t have mercy on his brother, who will have mercy on him?
ולמי עניי ישראל נושאין עיניהן
And to whom do the poor of the Jewish people look to? לאחיהן to their brothers
Therefore, the Rambam says that you have to believe that giving Sedaka is not going to cause a person to lose. We all have credit cards Baruch Hashem. People put money on their credit cards and they don’t know how they’re going to be able to do it, but somehow they do. It works. We have to act the same way with Sedaka.
There is another Bitachon point regarding Sedaka that I like to quote. It’s a Rashi, which is actually a midrash. When the Torah says about being happy in a holiday, V’Samachta B’Hagecha, it says You, your son, your daughter, your servant, your maid servant and then it continues with.... the clergy, the convert, the widow and the orphan.
G-d lists eight individuals, and says,
אִם אַתָּה מְשַׂמֵּחַ אֶת שֶׁלִּי אֲנִי מְשַׂמֵּחַ אֶת שֶׁלְּךָ
If you make Mine happy, I’ll make yours happy.
Rav Chaim Palaggi says that this is the best segula for shalom bayit and simcha in your house. The secret is making other people happy on the holiday.
And with that, we switch into our Appeal and Drive mode:
This is the time of year that I raise money for an organization called Lev Chana. We give out clothing cards worth about $1000 to what will be, this year, close to 150 families, and the families use these cards specifically in clothing stores (it can’t go to mortgages or other bills).
So this money is guaranteed to put a smile on the face of a person on the holiday. And they’ll be wearing clothing in honor of the Yom Tov.
What greater Mitzvah is there?
The Pele Yoetz says that it’s more important to make sure people have clothing for the holiday than food for the holiday, because clothing is what gives a person self respect. You don’t really know what a person ate for breakfast, lunch or supper. But when you can see their clothing, that gives them respect and dignity. As it says, בגדי אחרון לכבוד ולתפארת
The clothes of Aharon for honor and glory.
אזה המכבד?
Who is honored?
One that brings honor to others
If you want to have a happy honorable holiday, this is the way to do it. I am giving you an opportunity. All you have to do is-
send a check made out to to Lev Chana, to
Rabbi David Sutton
1059 East 10th Street
Brooklyn NY 11230
Or Click on this link-
https://www.rayze.it/levchana/
There are at least 1,000 people receiving this lesson and if each person gave $100 we could easily cover the budget. We need a little bit more than that, but we already have some money. Imagine if every day you got a daily dose of Bitachon, and it cost about $3 per day- or even $1 day. Of course we don’t charge anything, Baruch HaShem, it’s our zechut.
But Mitzvah Goreret Mitzvah.
B’Ezrat Hashem, everyone will respond with an open heart.
If you give to the JCF, the legal name is Cong. Keren Hachesed of Adath Aron V'Israel-Lev Chana of Long Keren Hachesed
The tax ID # is 113-05-2112
Tizke Lemitzvot and have a wonderful day.