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Parshat Teruma
By: Rabbi Moshe Goodman, Kollel Ohr Shlomo, Hebron

בס"ד

לשכנו תדרשו

Inviting the Holy Presence in Our Holy Land

And They Shall Take a Donation For Me

‘Indeed, have compassion on me and grant me to give much charity, and especially to the Land of Israel...’ (Likutei Tfilot II 34)

The Shulhan Aruch (Y”D 251, 3) rules that the inhabitants of the Land of Israel are to be preferred over the inhabitants of the Diaspora for charity. This rule is learned from the term ‘in your Land’, i.e the Land of Israel, mentioned in parshat Re’eh in the context of the commandment to give charity. According to the important responsa ‘Yosef Ometz’(19 - see proof-texts there), the principle of precedence of the inhabitants of the Land of Israel super cedes even the principle of preference of the poor of one’s personal town, considered otherwise to be one of the primary preferences in all of the laws of charity. In addition, according to the Hatam Sofer, the principle of preference towards the inhabitants of the Land of Israel is tied not only to the laws of charity but also to the mitzva of settling the Land of Israel.

These laws gain extra meaning when we contemplate our title quote of this parsha, mentioned in context of the Mishkan and the Temple. Even though the Temple does not stand today, we can emulate the original donation given to the Temple in the form of the half-shekel, and other forms, by contributing to endeavors that similarly promote the resting of the Holy Presence on earth. This is done by supporting the Jewish settlement of the Holy Land, Land of the Holy Presence. Of course, Hebron, beacon of the entire Holy Land, is an ideal location to support, thereby ‘raising’ the power of the Holy Presence therein and magnifying its spiritual light on the world at large.  

Throughout the generations connecting Hebron to the Jewry of the Diaspora was a constant mission. Over a period of about 280 years Hebron sent about 130 Rabbis as emissaries to the Diaspora, some of whom we have already mentioned (Hida, Rabbi Karigal, etc.). These emissaries were known as ‘shadarim’, an acronym for ‘shluha derabanan’, ‘a Rabbinical emissary.’ These emissaries formed strong connections between Jewry living in the Diaspora and the Land of Israel, through their spiritual leadership and also through the monies donated to the Land of Israel through them. This matter can be explained by what we have shown before, that ‘kesef’, money, has the same root as ‘kisufin’, longing, for indeed donating money to the Holy Land is a beautiful way a Jew expresses his/her longing and deep connection to the Holy Land.

These ‘shadarim’ would teach Torah abroad, and there they also magnified the people’s faith in HaShem and the Torah. They also strengthened Torah observance in the Diaspora. For example, sometimes they would find faults in the slaughtering of animals [shechita] in various towns, and they alarmed the people to such issues. These ‘shadarim’ also made peace between Jews and couples abroad, and many considered these rabbis to be holy and righteous figures to an extent that they named their children after these rabbis.

One of the earliest ‘shadarim’, sent about 350 years ago, was Rabbi Hiya Dayan, a descendant of the Davidic line. He was sent abroad seven(!) times on behalf of the Jewry of the Land of Israel, and on behalf of Hebron’s Jewish community three times. He wrote an index to the sermons of Rabbi Eliyahu ben Haim called ‘Aderet Eliyahu’. He also taught Torah in Morocco, and one of his pupils was Rabbi Haim ben Atar the Senior, grandfather of the ‘Or HaHaim.’

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Real Stories from the Holy Land #255

In place of a "Real Story" this week we would like to share one of the many stories that has been collected about such ‘shadarim’ (discussed in the devar torah).

In one instance one of these ‘shadarim’ was escorted by the entire town, Torah scholars, workers, by the wealthy and affluent alike. As he was about to leave, all began to bless the ‘shadar’ on his voyage back to the Land of Israel. Some said ‘may HaShem grant you a successful trip’, while others uttered verses pertaining to a safe journey, etc. One unlearned man, however, could not seem to find the proper wording or verse. He thought and thought, trying to find a proper verse or prayer. Finally, he remembered and blattered: ‘they drowned in the Red Sea, the depths of the sea shall cover them.’ (Song of the Sea) The crowd was greatly startled by this, they rebuked this man, and they could not quiet themselves till they returned this ‘shadar’ back to their town and made him stay there a number of days till they let him travel again...

Sources: Sefer Hebron p.125 and 219

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