THE HIGH-LEVEL RETURN OF TZEDAKAH (CHARITY)

Dear Family,

I hope everyone is well.

Mazal Tov to Shmuly and Devorah Leah on their 10th Anniversary today! Wishing you many more happy and healthy anniversaries together, with much nachas from all your Family.

Today is Rosh Chodesh Elul, and Elul is a month of PREPARATION and TESHUVAH, before Rosh Hashanah

CHARITY can lead to HIGH-LEVEL TESHUVAH (there are many levels of Teshuvah), and we have been learning about this in the Tanya portion this week.

There is a pasuk we say in the morning davening 'He sows tzedakot and causes yeshuot (salvation) to sprout.'

The Sages have said in Sotah, that 'with the same measure that a man metes out, so shall it be measured to him.' But it seems that Tzedaka (Charity) is different, in that the reward is way beyond our act. The Alte Rebbe explains this with the beautiful analogy of planting a seed, as follows:
When one plants a seed in the earth, it is not the seed which grows, it is the vegetative property of the earth which gives the growth. The vegetative power of the earth is hidden, and only becomes revealed by the little seed. The earth now effuses vitality to make possible the growth of the shoot from the seed, and the seed actually then decays in the soil. The seed and the soil unite, ie the particular power of growth of the seed, unites with the earths universal vegetative property.

As a result, from one tiny tasteless seed, results a huge abundance of tasty kernels or delicious fruits or vegetables etc The Zohar terms this as 'an arousal from below.' - which brings about an arousal from Above.

Our small physical acts of doing mitzvos in this world, are rewarded like for like in The World to Come. But the coins of Charity take one to a much more lofty level way beyond our planting, which is the illumination from the actual light of Hashem, which surpasses all the life of The World to Come, and this is called TESHUVAH ILAAH (The High-level Return) This is what the pasuk refers to when it says that the sowing of Tzedakah causes salvation to sprout, ie darkness is converted into light.

On the lighter side of planting seeds, I would like to congratulate Channa on the garden she has planted at home. This evening I had a taste of the first produce, ie a delicious potatoe. It is so interesting how one appreciates the product, and the blessing on the product, so much more when you see it growing and being nurtured. And there is a lot more to come - tomatoes, many squash, aubergine, apples, pears and flowers etc Well done Channa!!

Gut Shabbos and gut Chodesh to all, and wishing everyone a kesivah vechasimah tovah for a Good and Sweet New Year.