Thought of the Week: Re'eh - 5775

AN EDUCATION IN YERUSHALAYIM

Ma’aser Sheni is a Torah obligation to set aside one tenth of agricultural produce from the first, second, fourth and fifth years of each seven year Shmita cycle, for the function of taking it to Yerushalayim and consuming it there.

This Mitzvah helps in establishing the centrality of Yerushalayim in Jewish life.  In addition, food at times could bring out the worst behaviour in human beings.

The Torah guides a person to live all aspects of his or her life for the sake of heaven, including the consumption of food.  Thus, the Jew is commanded to set aside a portion of his produce and eat it in Yerushalayim - an environment of spirituality - such that he or she can learn that even the most physical of acts must be done within the guidelines of the Torah.

Shabbat Shalom