Parashat Bechukotai: The Power of Divine Providence and the Value of Every Soul

The Power of Divine Providence and the Value of Every Soul

It was finally hatzot (midday/midnight), and according to his personal Kabbalah, he refrains from working past this time – whether it's 1:00 PM or 1:30 AM, no external activities. This is a personal commitment. Many people decide that hatzot marks their stopping point for work-related tasks.

So, he decided it was too late to send the fax. He thought, "What can I do? I'll ask them to excuse me. I'll try to get the facts ready by Shabbat and send it out Motza'ei Shabbat (after Shabbat)."

As he was about to send the fax, a message arrived: one of the two businessmen had died on Shabbat. And which businessman? The one he had determined was responsible for returning the million dollars.

He realized this was no coincidence. "This isn't mikre (random chance); this isn't keri (a chance encounter)," he thought. "Had I sent this fax on Friday and that person received it, I would have carried the guilt my whole life, believing I had caused his death due to his intense distress (agmat nefesh) upon hearing he had to return a million dollars."

This teaches us that nothing is a coincidence; everything is decided by Hashem.

Consecrating Value and Finding Meaning

We swiftly conclude with the phrase "Yekhan Albi." Now, let's turn to the topic of values – how you consecrate, how you sanctify money. You want to give money to the Beit Hamikdash (Holy Temple).

Just as today we have various ways of giving donations and contributing to charity, in ancient times, people would estimate the value of an animal, a person, a house, or a field, and then declare, "I am consecrating the value of this to Hashem."

What does this teach us? After reading about the kilelot (curses) and how life can be filled with sadness and difficulty, one might feel discouraged, thinking, "Life can be so hard." But the Torah teaches us it's not like that.

Remember, you can take every single object in life – whether a field, an animal, or especially a human being – and it possesses tremendous value. The moment you decide to make it a hekdesh (consecration), to donate it, you imbue it with immense worth. Its value can then be brought to the Beit Hamikdash.

There is no room for despair, for thinking, "What am I worth?" Each individual is worth so much.

Approaching Matan Torah and Spreading Light

We are now approaching Matan Torah (the Giving of the Torah). Every single Jew, every person who stood on Har Sinai (Mount Sinai), and all the neshamot (souls) of future generations, stood there. Each one was wearing their crown, a diamond, a light shining upon the world.

This is what we must feel: how much each one of us contributes to Torah, can give to Torah, and can spread the light of Torah in the world.

As we are about to say "Hazak, Hazak u'Nit'chazek" (Be strong, be strong, and we will be strengthened), remember that it is by being together, strengthening ourselves together, that we will be zocheh (meritorious) to grow more and more, to be stronger in Yirat Hashem (fear of God), and we will be zocheh to bring Mashiach (the Messiah) very, very soon.

Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan: A Day of Reflection

Remember, this week is Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan – a very important day. It is Yom Kippur Katan, the day before Rosh Chodesh. It's the day when we say Tefilah Tashlumim (a very special prayer) which reminds us of our mission in this world. Each of us has been created for a mission: to sanctify the name of Hashem.

Every word you say in this prayer on Rosh Chodesh has special power. People travel to Tiberias to the tomb of the Shelah HaKadosh to say this prayer, but you can say it wherever you are. May all your words be heard and accepted.

Have a wonderful and beautiful Shabbat. And all my love from Antwerp.

Bechukotai 2019