Hi,
As we saw, the Torah lists all the special days in the Jewish calendar. The “holidays.”
Days set aside for spiritual growth.
Times to reflect. Times to connect to G-d.
But there’s something smack in the middle that doesn’t seem to fit in.
“When you harvest your field…Leave some for the poor”. (Leviticus, 23:22)
It’s a beautiful law.
But what’s it doing right in the middle of the Jewish holidays?
If we were teachers grading an essay?
We would circle it in red. And attach a note.
“Stick to the topic”. Or,” sloppy cutting and pasting!”
But this is not an accident!
The Torah is making a point. A very Jewish point.
The holidays are one way to connect to G-d.
And they are very important.
But there’s another way to connect to G-d.
By taking care of His children!
Giving tzedakah. Showing people that you care. Lifting their spirits.
In fact in Jewish tradition, acts of kindness can be even more spiritual than prayer.
Because when we pray?
We talk to G-d.
But there’s something even greater than that.
Being like G-d!
… “Kodak moments”.
The special times when we’re glad we had a camera. Wish we had a camera!
Or wish the kids would cooperate!
(We know how kids are. Try to take a still picture, they won’t stay still.
Try to take a video, they won’t move!)
The times we would like to preserve forever!
There are also “Kodak spiritual moments”.
Like when we stop to do an act of kindness.
We connect to G-d. Earn a piece of eternity.
And it lasts forever!
All the best,