The three hundred and fifth "cheder" in the Hayom Yom hall.
Tuesday, 28 Elul 5703.
Shiurim: Chumash, Haazinu, third portion, with Rashi's commentary.
Tehillim, on the 28th of the month, one recites from chapter 135 through chapter 139; and the three chapters for the month of Elul — 82, 83, 84.
Tanya: on this day we continue with Letter 19. The daily portion is on page 256, from the words "kein al derech zeh" until the word "meha'Ari z"l".
The daily saying is drawn from a letter written by the Rebbe Rayatz on 29 Adar 5702. The letter is addressed to a Jew who had the talent and the ability to engage in communal needs — in matters of tzedakah and in supporting Judaism. The Rebbe Rayatz arouses and encourages him that he should be in great joy over the privilege that has fallen to his lot to occupy himself with communal needs, and even to dedicate to this some of the time that is ostensibly his own personal time — for business and the like. The Rebbe calls this "adding from the mundane to the holy," and occupying oneself with his mission.
To encourage this cause, the Rebbe Rayatz relates in a letter a lengthy story about the Rebbe Maharash, who needed to raise funds in order to assist a group of poor people in certain regions. The Rebbe Maharash aroused the wealthy in those regions, and when he arrived in Kishinev, the wealthy of that place were not sufficiently moved to give their share toward helping the poor; therefore he spoke before them and greatly aroused them regarding the matter.
He spoke with them about how the Holy One, blessed be He, created the world in such a way that everything operates through the mode of giver and receiver: the heavens give rain and the earth receives, and likewise below among created beings — there are poor and there are rich, giver and receiver. He spoke with them at length: the poor person says to Him, "Master of the World, granted that there must be a giver and a receiver, but why were we chosen to be on the side of the receiver and not on the side of the giver?" And he aroused them, that whoever merited to be the wealthy one must know that upon him rests the mission to fulfill the Divine intent, and that he must be the giver. These words were said with great arousal, and it is told there that the wealthy ones understood the matter, opened their pockets, and things were set right.
This is the content of the letter, which arouses the Jew to give of himself — for wealth is not in money alone, but in the ability to assist in every area and in every matter. And within these words, the Rebbe Rayatz brings the saying that the Rebbe Maharash said, "come, let us gather together," which is the daily teaching.
And this is what he said: "The blessing of Hashem brings wealth" — this is a verse in Mishlei, spoken by King Shlomo. What is the emphasis in the verse? That "in general," all wealth comes from the blessing of Hashem — whoever has wealth, it comes from the blessing of Hashem. "And in particular for one who gives of his effort and his time to occupy himself with communal needs" in matters of tzedakah — a person who gives of his time and his affairs and occupies himself with communal needs certainly receives the blessing of Hashem, "in matters of tzedakah and the strengthening of Yiddishkeit."
He cites "as the familiar saying goes, the Holy One, blessed be He, does not remain a debtor" — the Holy One, blessed be He, never remains in debt; "in return for every good deed that a Jew does, He pays with 'the finest'". And with what does He pay? "with children, life, and ample sustenance" — with children, with health, and with abundant livelihood. In other words, a person who has it in his power to give — let him give, and give without calculation, and this will bring upon him the blessing of Hashem and wealth in all areas and in all matters that a Jew needs.