From: TorahFax <torahfax@Netaxis.qc.ca>

bs"d.

Thursday, Iyar 10, 5761 / May 3, 2001 (25th day of the Omer)

At the conclusion of each of the six chapters of Pirkei Avot,
which we study on Shabbat, we recite the following Talmudic
passage, "Rabbi Chanania son of Akashia says, 'The Holy One
blessed be He, wished to confer merit upon Israel; therefore
He gave them Torah and mitzvot in abundance.'"

Rabbi Chanania teaches us that the reason G-d gave us the many
mitzvot to perform is not for His sake but for our benefit,
for G-d wants to reward us and by obeying His commandments we
earn much reward for their performance.

This is not to say that we should perform mitzvot for their reward.
In fact, our sages teach us that, "we should be like servants who
serve their master not for the sake of reward."

One of the greatest mitzvot, for which G-d gives great reward is
the mitzvah of Tzedaka - charity.  In the third chapter of Pirkei
Avot, Rabbi Elazar ben Bartusa teaches us a very important lesson
on the giving of charity.  "Give to Him of that which is His,
for you and whatever is yours is His."

Rabbi Elazar teaches us that when giving Tzedaka - when we help
the needy, we are giving back to G-d what actually belongs to Him
in the first place. For not only what we give to charity belongs
to G-d, but also our share belongs to Him.  Tzedaka should not be
viewed as an act of mercy and benevolence in which we give OURS,
but a duty and obligation - returning to it's rightful owner an
object which was temporarily entrusted to us.

Our sages compare one who doesn't give charity to a man whom a
king gave a beautiful orchard as a gift, but after receiving this
wonderful gift, the person refused to give the king even one
basket of fruit from the orchard. The same says Rabbi Elazar is
with charity.  Everything we own is a gift from G-d. 

Charity, say our sages "saves from death."  Even when a decree of
death has been passed in heaven, through giving Tzedaka-charity
one can nullify that decree.

The Midrash tells that Rabbi Akiva was once traveling on a ship
when he noticed in the distance another ship which was sinking.
Rabbi Akiva knew that there was a scholar on the sinking ship who
would no doubt drown. But when Rabbi Akiva came to shore and
visited the synagogue, he saw the man engaged in study!

"How were you saved from the sinking ship?" Rabbi Akiva asked him.

"Your prayers must have helped me for I was thrown from wave to
wave until I found myself on shore."

"What good deed did you do to merit being saved?" asked Rabbi Akiva.

"As I boarded the ship, a poor man came and asked for food.  I gave
him a bread.  The poor man said to me, 'Just like you have saved my
life, may G-d save your life.'"

Upon hearing this Rabbi Akiva reminded everyone the words of King
Solomon "cast your bread upon the water and in time you will find
it!"

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

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