Shavuah Tov!!! Wishing everyone a blessed, healthy, and happy week.
This week we read Parasha “Terumah” – ”Contributions,” referring to the contributions given for the building of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) in the desert.
This Torah portion follows the Torah of Mishpatim, which dealt with civil laws,to teach us an important lesson. The concept of Mishpatim is that a person’s money must be acquired following the dictates of the law and justice. Before a person gives charity, he must be very careful that his money was not earned by cheating others. If a person gives tzedakah with dirty money it is not considered tzedakah at all. A Mitzvah that someone would fulfill by means of violating other Commandments is not considered a good deed(Bais HaLevi).
When it comes to doing good deeds, the end doesn’t justify the means. So just as taking a shower with a raincoat is not considered taking a shower, giving charity with money that was not earned righteously is not giving charity al all.
Some excerpts from “Growth Through Torah” by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin
www.livealittlehigher.com
