Out of Focus
In this week’s Parsha, Re’eh, we are introduced to the mitzvah of Maaser Sheini, the second tithing. This mitzvah relates to all produce that is grown in the Land of Israel. It works as follows. I own a pomegranate orchard which produces 1,000 bushels a season. Nobody may eat those pomegranate before I separate from my fruit the trumah and two tithings. For Trumah, I must take off 2% (twenty bushels) and give them to the cohein (priest). I must then separate the first tithing of 10% (98 bushels) and give them to the Levi. I must then separate a second tithing of 10% (88.2 bushels) leaving me with my net take of 793.8 bushels. To whom must I give this Maaser Sheini? Myself! These 88.2 bushels of pomegranates have a specific sanctity which requires that they must be eaten in Jerusalem.
The Torah in giving this mitzvah offers us the reason for it. “You shall eat (the fruit) in front of HaShem in the place He chooses to rest His Presence …. in order that you learn to be aware of HaShem all the days.”
It is good business practice to review one’s business plan on given intervals. The same is true with any organization that is serious about their work. The mission statement needs to be constantly reviewed. The reason for this is because in the course of our daily affairs, even those that relate to our business, we tend to get so caught up in the details of carrying out the various activities that we often lose sight of the purpose of WHY we are in business. It is conceivable to do great things and accomplish much but be entirely off goal. Without reviewing human nature will get distracted.
HaShem designed us with this flaw and it is our challenge to constantly remind ourselves and to bring ourselves back into focus of the purpose of our endeavors. HaShem also recognized the difficulty of constantly keeping Himself in our mind. We are so involved in our daily chores and our jobs and our family that it is very easy to be distracted from our connection to Him. Even though we may pray several times a day, nevertheless, He is so abstract that much of our cognizant awareness of HaShem diminishes over time.
HaShem therefore designed this mitzvah as a vehicle by which we must come up to Jerusalem and in close proximity to His Presence enjoy the fruits of our labor. When our Temple stood atop the Temple Mount, inspiration exuded from its walls. Even today with the Temple destroyed, at the only surviving monument, the Wailing Wall, many people can still feel an inspiration. How much more so from the walls of the Temple itself! How much more so when HaShem’s Presence rested there! How sad it is to consider what we are missing.
Not only do individual people become distracted from their goals and purpose, Mankind as a whole becomes distracted. As Man marches along his path through history although he may progress in his discoveries and knowledge base but without being in touch with HaShem’s Presence Mankind will lose his way.
This was the purpose of Maaser Sheini. Today with our Temple destroyed we can longer We must therefore ask ourselves what we can do today to keep ourselves cognizant of HaShem’s Presence. It is so easy to get sucked into the current culture that is changing from day to day. What was recognized yesterday as wrong is today acceptable and what is considered acceptable today will be considered tomorrow as required.
I do not know how we can replace the focus-providing vehicle that Maaser Sheini offered but I do know from experience that when one studies Torah and observes Shabbos there is a certain energy that is generated which gives that person a clearer insight to life. To quote a dear friend of mine who at that point in time was not observing Shabbos regularly, “The week following those Saturdays which I observe the Shabbos I have no interest in drinking with the boys at college.”
How fortunate we are that in spite of our human shortcomings we are nevertheless able to maintain an ongoing relationship with our Creator!
Have a wonderful Shabbos.
Paysach Diskind