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Shabbat starts on Friday at 5:31pm and ends on Saturday at 6:30pm. The weekly Torah portion is Ki Teitzei.
Mincha continues at 1.00pm at A-P GF/459 Collins, using the WhatsApp group to confirm a minyan each day.
Weekly sushi & shiur continues on Wed at 1.10pm at A-P GF/459 Collins – and via zoom. Current topic: property set-backs. Details here and on the WhatsApp group.
Thought of the Week with thanks to Yudi New
These days we talk alot about intentionality, particularly as it applies to our spiritual lives.
In this week’s Torah reading, Ki Teizei, we are given a different perspective.
Among the many interpersonal laws in the portion, the farmer is commanded to leave for the poor the sheaths of wheat which he may have neglected to harvest.
The commentator Rashi confirms that, although the farmer did not intend or plan his generosity, he is rewarded nonetheless.
As he so often does, the Lubavitcher Rebbe applies a twist, explaining that nothing in a person’s G-dly service is by chance, not even inadvertently helping another.
Even if we are not feeling it, our positive actions are generated by our inherent desire to do good and tap into our, often latent, G-dly soul.
As we prepare through the month of Elul for the High Holidays, we can burden ourselves with calibrating our intentions to make sure we get it right.
Perhaps, the lesson of the reward for the lost sheaths is that we are already hardwired to get it right.
More than anything, we need to tap into our pure G-dliness and natural will to do good, especially to others who rely upon our support.
Wishing everyone a Shabbat Shalom and Ketivah Vachatima Tova.