Please Click on image below to download & Print the Bulletin
THE WEEKLY SIDRA- EMOR
Rabbi Moshe Greebel
At times, we hear complaints concerning professional M’shulachim (charity solicitors), who take a certain percentage of what they collect, for their own livelihoods. Regrettably, there are occasions when we look down at such people, giving them the less than respectable classification of ‘Schnorrers.’
Now, this is all very unfortunate, because in truth, the Torah approves wholly of rewarding the M’shulach with a percentage of what he collects- a fact not very well known to most people. Consider the following.
It may surprise one to know, that when the Bais HaMikdash stood, it was not uncommon for non-Jews to offer Korbanos (offerings) there as well. This concept is learned from a Passuk (verse) in this week’s Sidra:
“And you shall say to them, ‘Each man, each man of the house of Yisroel, or of the strangers who sojourn among you, who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice.’” (Vayikra 17:8)
The Gemarah in Chulin 13b, speaks on this Passuk:
“…..As regards Yisroelim, you may accept sacrifices from the righteous but not from the wicked, but as regards gentiles you may not accept sacrifices from them at all. — You cannot entertain such a view, for it has been taught: (It would have sufficed had Scripture stated), ‘each man’ (one time). Why does it state, ‘each man, each man’? To include gentiles, that they may bring either votive or freewill-offerings like Yisroelim.”
Basically, because of the repeated expression ‘Ish ish’ (each man each man), we learn that even a non-Jew could have brought a Korban to HaShem in the Bais HaMikdash.
Continuing with this theme, we find what the Gemarah in M’nachos 73b instructs:
“The Sh’lomim (peace-offerings) of gentiles are to be treated as Olos (burnt-offerings). This I can prove either by a verse from Scripture, or by simple reasoning.….”
The Gemarah here is saying that the Korbanos of gentiles must be considered as Olos- completely burnt, and eaten by no one. This can either be proved by direct reference from the Torah, or by logic. We first see the logic of the argument:
“…..Either by simple reasoning: because a gentile in his heart (devotes the offering entirely) to Heaven…..”
That is, when a gentile offered a Korban, it was offered completely to HaShem. And, that is why it had to be considered an Olah, from which no man could eat. The more direct approach is derived from the following Passuk in the Torah:
“Speak to Aharon, and to his sons, and to all the B’nai Yisroel, and say to them, ‘Whoever he is, of the house of Yisroel, or of the strangers in Yisroel, that will offer his offering for all his vows, and for all his freewill offerings, which they will offer to HaShem for a burnt offering.’” (Vayikra 22:18)
Returning to the Gemarah, we see:
“…..Or by a verse from Scripture, ‘Which they will offer to HaShem for a burnt-offering.’ Whatever they offer shall be a burnt-offering.”
And so, we see that gentiles were permitted to offer Korbanos in the Bais HaMikdash, and these Korbanos could only be Olos. One of the more notable historical instances of this, can be found in the Gemarah Gittin 56a, where Rome agreed to send a Korban to the Bais HaMIkdash, prior to the armies of Caesar destroying that very Bais HaMikdash.
But, what has any of this to do with M’shulachim being entitled to a percentage of what they collect? The following incident, as recorded in the text Pardes Yosef, which deals with the illustrious Rav Chayim Volozhin (1749-1821) of blessed memory, puts both concepts together.
It once occurred that Rav Chayim sent a certain M’shulach to collect funds for the great Yeshiva in Volozhin. Now, one particular Ba’al HaBayis (householder) agreed to give a donation, but was absolutely reluctant to give his donation to the Yeshiva through a third party such as the M’shulach.
Instead of using the services of the M’shulach, the Ba’al HaBayis sent his donation directly to the Yeshiva in Volozhin, with a note that read, “I want this entire donation to go to the Yeshiva- no one else!”
Sometime later, the Ba’al HaBayis was shocked, when he received his donation back from Rav Chayim with a letter attached. The thrust of the letter was the following.
Not allowing the M’shulach to earn what is owed to him, is the way of the gentile- not the way of the Jew. For, when gentiles give to their religious institutions, they do not give through intermediaries, but directly to the institution. However, when Jews give Tz’daka (charity) to their religious institutions, they make certain that another Jew will benefit as well.
This is plainly seen from the above Gemarah in M’nachos. For, a gentile’s intentions when offering a Korban in the Bais HaMikdash, was to offer that Korban completely to HaShem, wholly burnt without man having any benefit from it. However, when a Jew offered a Sh’lomim, while he also offered it to HaShem, he himself ate of it, along with its co-owners, and Kohanim. This concept, where it is essential that another benefit as well, can only be understood by a Jew who is cognizant of the Torah.
And so, next time we see that M’shulach extend that laminated sheet for our perusal and for a N’dava (contribution), perhaps, we should view him in a more noble light than is the norm. If we do not begrudge him what is owed to him by rights of the Torah HaK’dosha, perhaps, we will be graciously given what we require as well.
May we soon see the G’ulah Sh’laimah in its complete resplendency- and in our times. Good Shabbos.
The National Council of Young Israel's Divrei Torah Bulletin is a weekly newsletter. If you'd like to receive our weekly e-newsletter with the Parshat Hashavua, Click here to sign up!
