Back in 1996, Rabbi Finman was asked to speak to the niece of one of his students. After spending many hours answering her questions, the woman gave Rabbi Finman her e-mail address. Rabbi Finman wrote the woman a note and included in it a short insight into that week's Parsha and a short Chasidic story.
Realizing that this was something no one was yet doing,, Rabbi Finman sent the missive to his mailing list of about 30 people. Requests from recipients friends came pouring in. The next week Rabbi Finman sent the e-Parsha to 100 people. Within a year more than 2000 people were receiving it. Today, more than 14,000 receive the e-Parsha weekly and the requests keep coming in.
Ki Savo 5786
Ki Teitsei 5786
Shoftim 5786
Re'eh 5786
Eikev 5786
Ki Savo 5786
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YouParsha Ki Savo https://youtu.be/rr7a3v8V2_w First Fruit and Breaking a Calf's Neck.
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The Parsha of the week is Ki Savo, Deut. 26 and following. Most of the Parsha focuses on the 98 curses Moshe declared for disobedience. One of the causes for the exile of the Jewish people is described as, "Because you did not serve Hashem B'simcha." Rashi explains B'simcha as, "When you were rich," meaning, "Who needs Hashem when things are going well?" The Arizal explains b'simcha simply meaning, "with joy." People do mitzvas - but begrudgingly.
The Alter Rebbe, the first Lubavitcher Rebbe, whose birthday is celebrated next Monday, explains at great length in Tanya the need tfor a balanced approach to doing Mitzvahs. Based on the dictum of the Talmud that a mitzvah performed without love and fear is like a body without a soul. Love and fear are called wings with which the mitzvahs fly. Performance out of only love or only fear just does not fly.
Ki Savo is always read in proximity to Rosh Hashana. It therefore follows that Ki Savo is a part of the preparation for the Day of Judgment. The High Holidays are called the Days of Awe, implying fear, but the Parsha states we need to be joyous to prepare for Rosh Hashana. Even our awe must be accompanied by joy. Jews are inspired by the Almighty, not afraid of his punishments. The purpose of the 98 curses is not to promise punishment to the Jewish people, but rather to instill a sense of purpose. Our fear of G'd is based on love of G'd. We love Hashem so much. How could we do anything that would ruin our relationship? We can be happy now that we are focused and have direction.
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A man and his wife came to the Baal Shem Tov. The woman was suffering from sudden paralysis of both hands. The Baal Shem Tov told the couple to follow him in their wagon. After several days of traveling (quite unusual, as the Baal Shem Tov was known to travel with Kevitzas Haderech [Mystical trip shortening technique] they arrived at the inn of a student of The Baal Shem Tov.
The student was overjoyed to be visited by his Rebbe. The Rebbe instructed the student that once he and his party were settled, he was to lock the doors and windows and allow no one to enter. If anyone comes and insists, the student was to tell the visitor that the Baal Shem Tov does not allow anyone to enter. That evening, as everyone went to sleep, the Baal Shem Tov went to the main room to study. The wife could not sleep and made a place for herself near the fire. The Baal Shem Tov instructed the woman, "If I tell you to do something - do it immediately with no questions."
Meanwhile, the local landowner was entertaining his brother who he had not seen in many years. The two celebrants became quite intoxicated and the Poritz (Yiddish for landowner) began bragging about the wonderful inn he had built. The brother was somewhat taken aback once he heard that the inn was managed by a Jew. Hurling curses, the brother took a horse and rode to the inn. Unfortunately, in his condition, he got lost and it began to snow quite heavily. Finally arriving at the door, the brother (who at this point would be more cold than drunk) found the doors of the inn locked. He began pounding on the door demanding to be allowed to enter. Awakened by the commotion, the innkeeper yelled to go away - the Baal Shem Tov does not allow anyone to enter. This went on for some time; the brother becoming more and more irate. Finally, the Baal Shem Tov instructed the door to be opened.
The now seething brother entered, demanding to know who the Baal Shem Tov was. The frightened innkeeper pointed to the Baal Shem Tov who was still studying - totally unaware of what was going on around him. The brother drew his sword and said, "Old fool, prepare to die!" The Baal Shem Tov turned to the woman and said, "Quickly, raise your arms." The paralyzed woman raised her arms. The brother's arms instantaneously became limb - his hands gnarled. Seeing what had happened he pleaded with the Baal Shem Tov for forgiveness. The Rabbi simply replied, "It is too late. The transfer has already occurred."
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