Thoughts From The
Lubavitcher Rebbe
Gemilat Chasadim—Performance of Kindness
By Rabbi Yossi Groner
During this month of Adar we
read the Torah portion of Mish-
patim in the book of Exodus.
In this portion, which contains
many laws governing the life of
Jewish people, we find the
Mitzvah of lending money (with
out interest) to a fellow person.
The Midrash states that every
commandment G-d issued to the
Jewish people is observed by
G-d himself. He tells us to do
and keep what he himself keeps.
Thus it follows that G-d also
observes the precept of lending
money to “His” people.
A loan is given to someone
even if he doesn’t deserve it.
Nonetheless, it is not a gift; the
borrower must ultimately repay
the loan.
G-d, too, provides the human
with various abilities he does not
necessarily deserve. He de
mands, though, that his loan be
repaid — that the abilities be
utilized for the realization of
one’s mission in life.
There are two types of loans:
loan of an object and loan of
money. The difference between
them is that in the first case the
borrower must return the same
object, for it does not become
his property. A monetary loan,
however, is given to be spent; it
becomes the property of the
debtor and he may use it any
way he desires.
When G-d provides the person
with abilities it is like a monetary
loan. Man chooses how he will
use these abilities. Will he use
it just to further his own purpose
or will he use it to realize his
mission in life?
A loan, even of abilities, is
given to be spent. Every person
could utilize it for his pefsonrl
affairs. However, he must bear
in mind the ultimate purpose for
which the loan was intended.
Practically speaking, the Mid
rash comments the lending mon
ey to the poor is tantamount to
lending to G-d. Furthermore, in
Proverbs it says, “He that is
gracious to the poor, lends to the
Eternal and He will repay him...”
When G-d pays back his debt,
though. He does so according to
his measure. Just as G-d is
infinite. He recompenses with
out limit.
Charity is equivalent to all
mitzvot. Among the various
levels of charity, the highest is
T eacher Tips
Developing the Whole Child
Our son is six years old. Many
of his friends are involved in
organized athletics, such as
soccer and basketball. Our son
wants to play team sports also,
but we wonder if a child his age
is ready for competitive sports.
Organized athletics can offer
your son many positive oppor
tunities. He can learn to face
challenges and risks and over
come them, experience winning
and losing in a supportive group,
develop a cooperative spirit, and
improve gross motor'skills.
Most importantly, he can have
fun!
You, as parents, can help
make the experience a positive
one by realizing that your child
is playing a game. Be certain that
your expectations are appropri
ate. Stress cooperation rather
than competition. Recognize the
efforts made by your son and his
teammates, whether they win or
lose. If winning becomes your
goal, the experience will no
longer be the healthiest one for
your son.
Your questions arc invited.
Please address all inquiries to:
TEACHER TIPS
6500 Newhall Road
Charlotte, NC 28270
Page 15-THE NEWS-Flmiary 1992
Conversion of Jewish Orphans in Yemen is Tragedy
gemilat chasadim — perfor
mance of kindness. In colloquial
usage, this term usually refers to
granting interest-free loans.
Our sages say that gemilat
chasadim is more superior than
charity, for charity can be given
only to the poor while free loans
are given to both the poor and
the rich. Gemilat chasadim is not
limited.
A fabulous story is told about
a man who once appeared before
the court of Rabbi Levi Yitzchok
of Berditchev. The man claimed
that he had left his home in a
state of poverty a year earlier.
His destination was unknown to
him, but he went on the road
to look for some chance to make
it back on his feet.
Before he left, he concocted
a story that he was sent, by a
famous company as a business
agent, and told his wife that the
company would pay his salary.
The following Friday the
woman appeared at the corpo
rate office and asked for her
check; the bookkeeper checked
the records and found nothing
in her husband’s name. The
woman refused to accept the
words of the bookkeeper and
began to shout at him. The
owner of the company heard the
shouting and inquired what the
noise was about. When he heard
the story of the poor woman, he
turned to the bookkeeper and
said the lady is right; somehow
it must have slipped my mind,
but from now on have her check
ready every Friday.
After a year the poor man had
succeeded in earning some
wealth and returned to his home
town. When he discovered that
his wife was receiving weekly
paychecks for his so called work,
he quickly ran to the owner and
pleaded his forgiveness and
proceeded to promise that he
will return all the money.
The owner refused to hear him
and said, “I do not know you
at all. You do not owe me a
thing; all I gave was a loan to
G-d and he has repaid me more
than double.” The poor man ran
to the court of Rabbi Levi
Yitzchok with the money and
asked him what to do. Rabbi
Levi Yitzchok ruled that the
money should be used to benefit
other poor people in town so
that they too could get on their
feet.
TEL AVIV (JTA) — The
forcible conversion of orphaned
Jewish children in Yemen has led
to tragedy, according to reports
brought here by members of a
pro-Israel Japanese sect, Mako-
pya, who had recently visited
Yemen.
They said a young Jewish girl
jumped off a cliff after she and
her brothers were forced to
convert to Islam, following their
parents’ murder by highway
robbers.
The incident occurred in Bil-
ad-Anis, a town 50 miles south
of Sana, the capital.
The Uri-Teyman (Awaken
Yemen) Association here, which
tries to rescue Jews remaining in
Yemen, confirmed that 47 Jew
ish boys and girls between ages
10 and 14 have been converted
to Islam in the past three
months.
According to Yemeni law, an
unmarried orphan automatical
ly belongs to Islam. The 15
Jewish children, whose parents
were murdered, came to the
attention of a religious Moslem,
Ahmed Midani el-Maz’aki, the
Japanese travelers reported. He
had them converted under du
ress and afterward adopted
them.
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