Misva of Sedaka

Shabat Bereshit

Shabat Bereshit we begin reading the Torah anew. The Hahamim tell us:

"The Torah begins with acts of kindness and ends with acts of kindness"

It begins with acts of kindness as it states: "And Hashem G-d made for Adam and his wife garments of skin and he clothed them."

There is a general message that the main theme and purpose of the Torah is centered on the performance of acts of kindness, as the Torah begins and ends with Hashem's acts of kindness . However, there are many details that one may learn about the Misva of Sedaka, from every event in the Torah.

Adam and Hava, within the first hours of their existence, have just committed the first human cardinal transgression against Hashem Himself. They have also caused death to humanity, forever. There will never be anyone so unworthy of kindness as these two beings. They found the fig-leaf solution to their nakedness. Under the circumstances, Hashem need not intervene and offer the skin garments, lest it make the crime light.

However, Hashem acted in the manner in which the Torah expects us to act, therefore many lessons ought to be learnt from this Divine action.

1. One must do Sedaka and Hesed with everyone undiscriminately, even to someone who has wronged you.

2. When someone is in dire need, that is not the time to judge him, you first assist the person and later deal with any issues.

3. One's duty to help is never related to the behaviour, traits or characteristics of the recipient.

4. Even in circumstances where one may be rightfully angry, one should do the misva himself and not through an agent. (Hashem could have sent an angel to do the action, instead He Himself created the garment and He Himself clothed them)

5. The quality and generous nature of one's sedaka may never be altered, in all circumstances one must provide the best. (Hashem made them garments of skins, that are meant to be very durable and comfortable)

6. The ingredients of love and care are as essential as the assistance provided, for sedaka is only a means to achieve an act of kindness.

SEDAKA II – Shabat Noah

The medrash tells us that Abraham Abinu met Shem the son of Noah and wondered for which merit were they saved from the ark. He replied that it was in the merit of the Sedaka they performed in the ark. Abraham was perplexed with the answer as there were no human beings beyond the family members who were neither poor nor needy. Shem then explained that he meant the kindness they did with the animals. He expressed that they had a most difficult time in the ark, hardly ever sleeping, as they had to feed all the animals each at their exact proper time, preparing for each species their specific foods. On top of that, they had to deal with the various difficult natural tendencies of each animal. So their existence in the Teba, as unbearable as it was, turned into a marathon of Hesed.

Our Sages tell us, that Abraham was in essence asking, what merit did they have that they were able to survive such an unendurable situation. The answer was that the Sedaka they did with the animals, spared them from the expected natural breakdown to their health.

The Medrash takes us through Abraham’s mental deductions from the event. Noah and his children took care of the animals because G-d’s command, which transgression, would bring them serious consequences. Besides, their very life would be a stake if the animals weren’t fed, and certainly they would not be in any better position were the animals to die. They also had to secure life for all species for their own future continuity. Truly they had no choice than caring for the animals, yet they got handsomely rewarded. Immediately, Abraham decided that if there was such reward for caring for the simplest of G-d’s creations, how much more spiritual and materialistic reward would there be if he were to invest his time and effort in doing Hesed and Sedaka with humans who are created in G-d’s imagemuch more. Thus, Abraham Abinu made himself the man of Hesed, that became the first and fundamental basis of our religion.

SEDAKA III - LECH LECHA

When Hashem told Abraham Abinu to leave his land and relatives to travel to an unknown place, He promised him great favour. Beyond making him into a great nation, the theme of being a blessing is strongly emphasized.

“And I will bless you.... and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you.... and all the families of the earth shall bless themselves by you.”

The Medrash explains that Hashem gave Abraham Abinu the following two blessings:

1. Until now, G-d said, I was the only one who blessed people and the blessing was fulfilled, as I blessed Adam, Noah and yourself, however from now on the blessings are in your hands, you bless whoever you wish and the blessing will be fulfilled.

2. You will become the standard by which the nations of the world will bless themselves, as a father’s most important blessing to a son will be that he become like Abraham.

Our sages wonder what Abraham Abinu might have done that Hashem rewarded him by endowing him with the divine powers of blessing. For after all, one gives a blessing for the purpose of changing a natural reality that now exists by heavenly design. Truly, for a blessing to be successful, one exercises an ability to ask Hashem that He change a pre-determined situation.

The Medrash tells us that the reason for such a handsome reward was expressed by Hashem to Abraham in following manner: “Since I decided to create the world until now, my occupation was to do Hesed with the universe and all that it contains, now Abraham came and he took over my profession.”

We learn from here a great lesson: When one does sedaka and hesed one becomes G-d-like, when taking up Hashem’s responsibilities to the world, one naturally takes over many G-dly privileges and powers.There is nothing in the world, that will bring blessing to a person more than his acts of sedaka and kindness. Be a blessing!