Rabbi's Blog

Dear OZ family,

The Torah in this week’s Parsha commands us to tithe whatever our land produces. The double expression of “Aser T’aser” (Devarim 14:22), is understood by some commentaries to include the command to tithe our income as well. Rav Moshe Feinstein even included the standard of tithing our time! That means that if we reckon how much leisure time we have in a week, we should spend one tenth of that time within that week, involved in some type of Chesed or charitable activity. The Gemara expounds the double expression of “Aser T’aser” in an additional manner, by switching the dot on the left side of the letter “Sin”, to the right side, to become a “Shin”, thus changing the second word from “T’aser” to T”asher”. Now the two words teach that those who tithe will be rewarded with riches. The kind of riches may vary, but this exposition is one with the idea that we gain much more than we give when we perform acts of Chesed and charity. Also if we tithe the actual letters that comprise the word “T’aser”, meaning we reduce the four letters to a tenth of their respective numerical values, we create a new word, “Mazalcha”, your good fortune, because the best way to create a fortune is by giving.

Alisa and I thank all those who gave us the strength and good will to meet the challenges of these last few months. Tomorrow is our last treatment and we are looking to put it all behind us. May we all share in good Mazel together in good health.

Be well.  Be healthy.  Be excellent.

Rabbi Allen Schwartz

Rabbi Allen Schwartz

Congregation Ohab Zedek

118 West 95^th Street | New York, NY  10025-6604

Phone 212.749-5150, ext 200 | Fax 212.663-3635

E-mail ras@ozny.org

Website:  www.ozny.org