Recap for 19 Sivan, 5776 (Parsha Behaalotecha).

This Shabbos we continued our discussion of Leo Levy’s work. We also discussed parsha behaalotecha. David Schlesinger led discussion.

We talked some more about the concept of melachot, which we define as work with a purpose. Usually, what we do for a living would be considered melachot, but there are exceptions for work that does not create any value for anyone.  Melachot also includes work we may do for ourselves, such as working in our yard.  By doing work, we imitate Hashem who also did work for 6 days, and we also have an opportunity to apply spirituality to our physical world - "elevate the sparks of kiddusha".

We discussed how as Jews, it is important that we engage in melachot. Melachot to us is not just a necessary burden, but something that is beneficial to us spiritually, and in many ways. We discussed how Hashem himself engaged in melachot, in order to show us that this is what he wanted us to do.  Clearly Hashem had the power to create everything instantly, but the way he did it in 6 days and then resting on the 7th, is because he wants us to do the same.

We discussed that it is not desirable to not engage in melachot at all. This would leave someone without the means to take care of their own needs, in which case they would have to beg from others. All the time spent begging, would take away from time and energy that they could devote to Torah study.  Our ultimate goal is to study and follow the Torah, but the best way to achieve this is to engage in melachot that we do to finish the act of creation and help us make a living.

We discussed how Adam actually had to do some melachot in the Garden of Eden, although many of his needs were taken care of. Last Shabbos, we discussed how it actually created a desirable situation for mankind that Adam ate the forbidden fruit, as the best situation for man is that we all have to work.

We discussed how historically we each did all the work necessary in order to take care of our needs. However, as the modern economy has grown, we have developed a monetary system that allows us to each do what we do best, and to trade this work for the value created by others who do what they do best. We discussed how in Israel, there are so many high tech jobs, some of the lower level jobs need to be done by non-Jewish immigrants.

We discussed the idea of receiving money for doing a mitzvah. It is ok to receive money in certain situations. For example, we may pay someone to teach Torah, such as a Rabbi, with his salary being provided to compensate him for the opportunity cost he endures.

We discussed what was going on with us in the parsha. We discussed how this section of the Torah is not necessarily a happy time for us, as we commit sins and fail to realize our mission of making it to Israel.

We discussed how in parsha Behaalotecha, we see that we each had a role to play in the tabernacle, which had just been inaugurated. The Levies were given special roles, but everyone had a role to play in the construction.

This is a summary of what we discussed.  No halachic rulings are intended or should be inferred.