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Date Posted: 20:19:17 08/02/12 Thu
Author: d
Subject: fb182

Eight Levels of Tzedakah
by Maimonides (in descending order)

1. Give a present, lend him money, take him as a partner, find him work before he needs to ask for charity.
2. Give charity where neither the giver nor the receiver know the identity of the other.
3. Give where the donor knows the recipient's identity, but the recipient is unaware of the donor's name.
4. Give where the recipient knows the donor's identity, but the donor does not know who is the recipient.
5. Give before being asked.
6. Give after being asked.
7. The donor gives less than he should, but with a pleasant countenance.
8. The donor gives begrudgingly, but does not express this to the recipient. The Code of Jewish Law (Yorah Daiah 249:3) states that if a person outwardly shows his displeasure, he loses the merit of giving.


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TZEDAKAH
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Torah Portion of the Week
Va'etchanan

Moshe pleads with God to enter the Holy Land, but is turned down. (Remember, God always answers your prayers -- sometimes with a "yes," sometimes with a "no" ... and sometimes with a "not yet".) Moshe commands the Children of Israel not to add or subtract from the words of the Torah and to keep all of the Commandments. He then reminds them that God has no shape or form and that we should not make or worship idols of any kind.

The cities of Bezer, Ramot and Golan are designated as Cities of Refuge east of the Jordan river. Accidental murderers can escape there to avoid revengeful relatives. They then await there until tried.

The Ten Commandments are repeated to the whole Jewish people. Moshe then expounds the Shema, affirming the unity of God, Whom all should love and transmit His commandments to the next generation. A man should wear Tefillin upon the arm and head. All Jews should put a Mezuzah (the scroll is the essential part) upon each doorpost of their home (except the bathroom).

Moshe then relays the Almighty's command not to intermarry "for they will lead your children away from Me" (Deut. 7:3-4).
* * *

Dvar Torah
based on Growth Through Torah by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin

The Torah states:

"And these things which I command you this day shall be upon your heart" (Deut. 6:6).

What lessons for life can we learn from this verse?

Rabbi Shalom Schwadron frequently said in the name of his Rebbe, Rabbi Yehuda Leib Chasman: "Just as with the commandment of tefillin when it says 'on your hand' it means without any obstructions, so too when the Torah says 'on your heart' it means without any obstructions. You must remove faulty character traits and emotions from your heart before you will experience love for the Almighty."

The Kotzker Rebbe commented on this verse: At times your heart might be closed and the concepts and ideas you accept intellectually do not penetrate and become part of you. Still, keep them on your heart. Once they are "on your heart" -- then as soon as your heart opens up, they will immediately fall right in!



CANDLE LIGHTING - August 3
(or go to http://www.aish.com/sh/c/)

Jerusalem 6:59
Guatemala 6:13 - Hong Kong 6:45 - Honolulu 6:51
J'Burg 5:23 - London 8:27 - Los Angeles 7:34
Melbourne 5:16 - Mexico City 7:53 - Miami 7:48
New York 7:51 - Singapore 6:58 - Toronto 8:20

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

Be hard-headed and soft-hearted
-- David Packard


With Heartfelt Thanks to

Sam Pearson III

McTairie, Louisana



With Great Appreciation to

Jesse Jones

Lansing, Michigan




Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Kalman Packouz

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