GROWTH

Dear Family,

Mazal Tov to Shmuly and Devorah Leah on their Anniversary, which is on Shabbos, and Rosh Chodesh Elul. Wishing you many more years of continued growth and joy!

And Mazal Tov to Avi's brother Chezzi who had twins! (a boy and a girl BH).- wishing many simchos for the Family and extended Families.

This week, from 2 angles we learnt about TZEDAKAH and GROWTH.

1. In the Sedra
2. Tanya portion of this week

Sedra

In this week's Sedra Reeh, it mentions ' You shall surely tithe all of your produce..'

The Hebrew word for tithe is taaser.

And our Sages point out that this is the same root as titasher - to become rich.

In other words by giving TZEDAKA we BECOME RICH.

And the Rebbe in a letter, mentions that by resolving to give charity beyond our means, Hashem grants us the wealth to do this (Igros vol 14 p211)

Tanya

The Alte Rebbe's teachings are very deep, and one of the points discussed this week, was from the phrase describing Charity as 'mazmiach yeshuot' - it causes deliverance TO SPROUT FORTH.

The Alte Rebbe explains that when one gives Tzedakah it effects a Divine manifestation that utterly transcends man's service.

One of the analogies that he uses is the GROWTH FROM A SEED as follows:

The seed itself is tasteless and bland (mostly).

We than plant this seed and a shoot sprouts from it.

But the shoot and subsequent tree are not the very essence and being of the seed at all, for the seed has long ago decayed in the soil, and is not the source of the vegetative power!

It is the soil itself which is the vegetative power for the GROWTH OF THE SHOOT.

It is only that the earths vegetative power does not manifest its power openly.

Without going into details of the Alte Rebbes comparison, it is obvious why one of the expressions used for Tzedaka, is that 'it causes deliverance to SPROUT forth' ie our bland act of charity causes growth way, way beyond our act, achieving abundant and continual supply of fruit! (section 8 of Igeres Hakodesh)

Gut Shabbos and Gut Chodesh to all.