This week’s Parsha starts with the words of Moshe speaking to Klal Yisrael “Atem nitzavim hayom kulchem” - you are all standing in front of Hashem your G-d.
Although this was part of Moshe’s lecture to the Jews, the Zohar explains that “hayom” – “today” refers to Rosh Hashana, the day all of us stand before Hashem for his judgment.
It is brought down from many Tzadikkim that since every Shabbos is the source of blessing for the whole week, and Shabbos has an influence on the whole week, so every time there is a Yom Tov during the week, the Shabbos before has an influence on that Yom Tov.
Not only is Rosh Hashana so important as it is the deciding day for our future the upcoming year. This Shabbos before Rosh Hashana is also very important as it has the power to influence how our Rosh Hashana will go. It is therefore so appropriate that this Parsha that is also referring to Rosh Hashana is read the Shabbos before Rosh Hashana.
As we approach the final days of the year, many thoughts go through our mind how to finish off this year successfully and merit a sweet new year full of good mazel.
The following story is very famous, but its message is so appropriate for Rosh Hashana.
Reb Yukel was a pauper who lived in Krakow. His house was bare, his family walked around in torn clothing, shivering from the cold wintery weather. In his house was a fire place but Reb Yukel had no money for wood.
One night Reb Yukel had a dream, Hashem saw his pain and suffering and decided to bring it to an end. In the capital underneath the bridge leading to the Royal Palace was a hidden treasure. If he digs there he will find it and become very wealthy.
The next morning Reb Yukel got up fresh and excited and headed out to the big city. When he arrived he saw breathtaking sites, but Reb Yukel never forgot the purpose of his trip. He went straight to the Palace. As he arrived there, his dream became alive. All what he saw in his dream he saw in reality, the Palace, the gates, the bridge and all. Everything was exactly as he had dreamed, besides one small detail.
In his dream he never saw the guard by the bridge.
Now Reb Yukel was stuck. The guard would never let him dig for his treasure. What could he do? A trip in vein? Reb Yukel wasn’t ready to give up.
Reb Yukel was deep in thought trying to come up with some plan. But his thoughts were disturbed by a shout, “Hey you there, this isn’t a place to stand, move away,” said the guard.
Reb Yukel froze and didn’t move.
“What’s wrong,” asked the guard, “what are you waiting for?”
Reb Yukel had a great idea. He told the soldier about his amazing dream hoping the soldier would agree to let him dig underneath the bridge.
The soldier burst out into laughter.
“Are you trying to tell me that because of a silly dream you came all the way here? Let me tell you something. I also had a dream last night. In my dream I saw that there is a fellow called Yukel who lives in Krakow and under his fireplace there is a treasure. So tell me my friend, do you really think I am so stupid to go all the way to Krakow because of a silly dream?”
Reb Yukel didn’t need to hear anything else. He ran home as fast as his legs would carry him.
When he arrived home he started digging under the fireplace. His wife thought he was crazy, but he just ignored her. A short while after he found the treasure.
Reb Yukel became a wealthy man and even built a Shul in Krakow that was called after him.
The message is so strong.
We are looking for our fortune everywhere but in our own home. We imagine that in a different city lies our treasure, in someone else’s home we will find our happiness, but the truth is that our treasures are in our own home.
We must daven to Hashem on Rosh Hashana that Hashem blesses us with a sweet new year and that we merit to appreciate all the treasures Hashem has given us.
In Parshas Ki Savo we read the Parsha of Bikurim
Bringing the first fruits of the new harvest to Yerushalaim to the Kohen.
The famous question is, why does the wealthy man who brings his fruit in an expensive dish, have his dish returned to him, whereas the Kohen keeps the basket of the poor man.
Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rokeach, the Belzer Rebbe gives the following explanation.
When a person brought Bikurim, the Kohen gave him a blessing that he should merit to bring again Bikurim next year.
The Belzer Rebbe explains that when a wealthy man brought Bikurim the Kohen emptied the fruit, returned the dish and blessed him that he should merit to bring Bikurim again next year in a golden dish.
However when the poor man brings his Bikurim in a basket, the Kohen keeps the basket and blesses him that he should merit to bring Bikurim again next year, not in a basket, but in an expensive dish.
With this he gives a new understanding to the Gemarah.
The Gemarah when referring to the poor man who loses his basket writes, 'Basar anya azla aniyusa' - poverty follows poverty, the poor become poorer. However the word 'azla' can have another translation. Instead of 'follows' it also can mean 'goes away'.
In the case of Bikurim the Kohen gives him a blessing that after the poverty, it should go away and next year he should have prosperity.
Rabbi Sholom Rokeach, the Sar Shalom of Belz gives a beautiful idea.
'Basar anya' after the 'Ani' - the poor man. What are the letters in the Alef Bet after Ani. After the letter ayin comes 'pei', after the letter nun comes 'samech', and after the letter yud comes 'kaf' - 'Kesef' - which means money and also means silver. After the letters Ani, his poverty goes away and is followed by money and wealth.
Both have the similar idea that the Kohen takes away the basket and blesses the poor man that next year he should bring Bikurim in an expensive dish full of fruit.
The Mitzva of Bikurim is based on having gratitude. A person's field has just begun to become ripe. The excitement is so great. So much fresh and delicious fruit. But first a person must remember who blessed him with this fruit. It is all from Hashem. Therefore a person has to bring the first fruit of the harvest to Yerushalaim as recognition of gratitude to the great blessings one has received from Hashem.
