Thursday, March 19, 2015

The Greatest Gift You Can Give

Vayikra

In this weeks parsha, Vayikra, we read about sacrifices brought to Hashem on the alter. 

There were animal, bird, and flour offerings. 

From all the offerings brought, the flour offering had a special name. It was called a Mincha, a gift. 

What is so special about this offering that it is called a gift? What lesson can we take from this? 

The Mincha was usually brought by the poor, being that they could afford neither animals nor birds. 

For those who could afford animals or birds, bringing a sacrifice didn't change their lifestyle. Whereas for the poor person, it was truly giving up his basic needs. It was giving of himself in the purest sense and to Hashem that is a "gift". 

There is giving of what you have and giving of who you are. Each of us should give of what we have. The question is: Are we also giving of who we are? 

Hashem gave each of us talents, abilities and natural gifts. These are your's for as long as you have them. These were given to you so that you can accomplish your unique mission. Using these talents, abilities and natural gifts is giving of what you have. 

Your essential self is by far greater then the gifts you possess. Allowing your neshama to come through and effect those around you, is giving of yourself. 

Over the past two years I've been watching my abilities, talents and gifts slip away, wondering: What is the purpose of living if I am not able to do these things? 

The answer became clear as people started to visit. With nothing to give of my talents, I was left with raw love and joy towards the visitors, and that apparently came through more powerfully than all the talents. 

You don't need to wait to tap in to your essential self. You can allow it to come through in everything you do. Ah! Your essence is beautiful, let it come out. Now, that is a "gift" to Hashem. 

8 comments:

  1. Yitzi - your words are beautiful and inspiring. This is a great dvar Torah. May you continue to be surrounded by the people who truly love you. Shabbat shalom from Yerushalayim! Judy Caspi, friend of Sheina

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  2. This is the best blog post I ever read. Yasher Koach.

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  3. And, as our sages teach: All who heed the Torah in a poor state will end up heeding it in a rich state. So may it finally happen that you merit to give your entire essence in the rich state complete health and wealth physically and spiritually!

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  4. Rabbi, you continue to inspire us!!

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    1. Your statement is a beautiful one. Your greatest asset is not a physical one; it is the capacity to feel and express LOVE.You express this axiom as a tenet of Torah; as an imperative directly from Hashem. This is a powerful message. Dr John

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  5. Your statement is a beautiful one. Your greatest asset is not a physical one; it is the capacity to feel and express LOVE.You express this axiom as a tenet of Torah; as an imperative directly from Hashem. This is a powerful message. Dr John

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  6. Beautiful, Rabbi! Your "self" is a gift to all who know you! Your dvar Torah really gets to the heart of this week's parsha! Good Shabbos from Texas, and may we merit Moshiach this Nissan!

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