Hashgacha Pratis in the Sefarim Hakedoshim
Excerpts from the popular shiur by Harav Yehuda Mandel shlit”a from Lakewood
Giving as a Means of Becoming Uplifted
Many people feel stuck in their lives and are seeking a way out of their current situation and into a better one; in other words, they are looking to uplift themselves. How is it possible to do this?
There is a very simple act that uplifts a person, and this is the act of giving to others. He who gives – is uplifted. Terumah – giving, or donating, shares its root with the word haramah – lifting up. This is one of the fundamentals of Yiddishkeit.
Giving can take any form. A person can teach others, explain words of Torah to them, daven for them, smile at them, give them tzedakah, collect money for them, or write essays that will enlighten others. The possibilities for giving are endless.
The Alter of Novaradok zt”l would say, “Anyone who gives – takes. The amount you invest in others is the very amount that you yourself will receive.”
But the first stage, before we start giving to others, is to believe in ourselves, to believe that we can give, that we have what to give, and that we are capable of giving.
The truth is that this is a cycle, like a turning wheel: We give a bit to others and we are uplifted in return; when we are uplifted, we can give more. That’s how the wheel turns, with the giving and the being uplifted increasing exponentially.
Parshas Mishpatim includes many mitzvos about taking care of the poor and unfortunate, but the main message in the parashah is: You are My servants, not the servants of servants. This means that you must recognize your own great value, and don’t sell yourself as a servant; remember that you belong to Hakadosh Baruch Hu, and your value is great and exalted! Don’t lower yourself and don’t make yourself an unfortunate person. Your life comes first! And then you’ll be able to do kindness with others.
The critical stage to becoming uplifted is raising up your she’ifos and your way of looking at this world and this life. Once you have an “uplifted view,” then you can start giving.
Another way to uplift yourself is to take a full hour to write for yourself one hundred of your strong points – whether you believe in all of them or not. Even if you don’t believe in them at all, write them down. This is a magic formula to uplift the nefesh, and it is very much recommended.
When we become uplifted, we leave behind the lowliness of this world, our minds are more focused on avodas Hashem, and we come closer to Hashem. May Hashem help us to serve Him with a happy and uplifted heart.
The words of Dovid Hamelech (Tehillim 18:36), “And shield me with Your salvation,” refer to Am Yisrael, who trust in Hashem, and He is their Shield: He is a shield to all those who take shelter in Him. (Shemos Rabbah 41:4)
