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From: "Ohr Somayach"
To: dafyomi@vjlists.com
Subject: The Weekly Daf - #327

The Weekly Daf #327
Ketubot 46 -52
Issue # 327 Parshat Behar
By Rabbi Mendel Weinbach, Dean, Ohr Somayach Institutions
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A SOLID INVESTMENT

"Wealth and riches shall be in his house," says King David (Tehillim 112:3), "and his righteousness shall endure forever." Who is the unnamed recipient of such a blessing?

One interpretation in our gemara is that this refers to one who studies Torah and teaches it to others.

Maharsha offers a fascinating explanation of the comparison between Torah and material wealth. In regard to wealth, we have been taught by Rabbi Yochanan (Mesechta Taanit 9a) that the Torah's usage of a double phrase "Tithe, you shall surely tithe" (Devarim 14:22) teaches us that the reward for fulfilling the mitzvah of tithing is the blessing of wealth. (The Hebrew word can be read both as "te'asser" which means "tithe" and as "te'asher" which means "become wealthy.") Tosefot there cites a Sifrei that this applies not only to agricultural produce which the Torah commands us to tithe but to the tithing of any earnings and profits as well.

Just as one who gives a share of his wealth to charity does not suffer a reduction in his resources but actually enjoys an increase, so it is with the sharing of his Torah knowledge. The greatest Sages (Rabbi Chanina in Mesechta Ta'anit 7a and Rebbie in Mesechta Makkot 10a) have declared "Much have I learned from my teachers; even more from my colleagues; and the most from my students." The scholar who shares his learning with others loses nothing. He becomes even wealthier with the true riches of Torah knowledge.

* Ketubot 50a

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Written and Compiled by Rabbi Mendel Weinbach
General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
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Ohr Somayach International
22 Shimon Hatzadik Street, POB 18103
Jerusalem 91180, Israel
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(C) 2000 Ohr Somayach International - All rights reserved.

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