1

Each year, children gather together several times, including a gathering, which like the present one, is held at the end of the summer.[222] Since, as the Baal Shem Tov taught, everything which a Jew sees or hears is a lesson for him in the service of G-d, such a gathering will surely produce lessons which we can apply in our service.

The service of G-d is a fundamental matter for each Jew as the Mishnah teaches, "I was only created to serve my Creator." This applies also to young children who serve G-d through the study of Torah and the fulfillment of mitzvos. Indeed, at times, we see that they dedicate themselves to the fulfillment of the mitzvos with a deeper commitment than adults.

A child does not disguise his true feelings; what he says reflects the way he feels. Thus, when a child states, "I was only created to serve my Creator," he means what he says. Indeed, parents and teachers are often positively influenced by the depth of commitment which children show. To emphasize the importance of this "childlike" commitment, G-d refers to the entire Jewish people as His "children."

The oneness of the commitment of Jewish children reflects G-d's oneness. Through following the directives of "the one Torah," we can draw this oneness into the world, bringing about "one day," making each day full with faith in G-d and observance of His Torah.

Furthermore, following the Torah will reveal the unity of the Jews. G-d looks on all Jews as equals. He does not differentiate between adults and children and considers all Jews as His "children." Through Torah practice, this inner unity will be expressed openly.

This will bring about a reward that reflects oneness, the ultimate Messianic redemption when the Jews will proceed to Eretz Yisrael, to Jerusalem, and to the Beis HaMikdash.[223] The Beis HaMikdash will contain the holiest place in the world which was entered only once a year by one individual, the High Priest.[224]

Within each Jew, there is also a "Holy of Holies" where the Divine Presence rests. Every Jewish child knows this and reflects this in his behavior by saying Modeh Ani each morning -- thanking G-d for returning his soul -- and then, by washing negel vasser. This grants him pure hands which enable him to carry out his daily behavior in a pure manner.

Also, as a reflection of the awareness of G-d's presence, each child should have a siddur, a chumash, and a tzedakah pushkah in his room. This will transform his room into a Sanctuary, a place where the Divine Presence rests.

2

As is customary, this gathering can be connected to a lesson from this week's Torah portion, Parshas Re'eh and in particular,[225] from the portion of the Torah connected with the present day, the second aliyah. Re'eh means "see." It reflects how each Jewish child has the potential to "see" how "everything was created through His speech," as we say in the blessing recited over water and other foods.

In particular, the second aliyah of Parshas Re'eh describes the manner in which the Jews live in Eretz Yisrael[226] and how they offer sacrifices[227] in the Beis HaMikdash.[228] This reinforces our faith that in the very near future, Moshiach will come and we will proceed to Jerusalem and "see" the Beis HaMikdash actually rebuilt. Each day, we must believe that Moshiach is coming.[229] For example, at present, we must expect him to come in time for us offer the afternoon sacrifice before the sun sets.

This lesson can be taken further: A Jew must "see" how everything in his life can be used as a sacrifice for G-d. This is reflected in the command, "And you shall love the L-rd, your G-d, with all your heart,... and with all your might." Our Sages interpreted the latter phrase as, "with all your money." A Jew's full-hearted love of G-d should be reflected in his desire to give his property to tzedakah for G-d's sake.

"Tzedakah is great because it brings close the redemption." The time for the redemption has already arrived and its revelation will be hastened by Jewish children's full hearted gifts to Tzedakah.

3

This gathering will be concluded by making each one of you a shliach to distribute money to tzedakah. You will all receive three coins, two to use as you desire, and a third to be given to tzedakah. [In the merit of the children, these coins will also be given to the adults who are here.] Giving the third coin to tzedakah will elevate the two you keep for yourselves and reflect the merit of Tzedakah upon them.

[In this context, we can understand the association of the mitzvah of tzedakah with the command, "And you shall love the L-rd, your G-d,... with all your might," as "with all your money." On the surface, the Torah does not require a person to give all his money away for tzedakah. However, the money which one does give elevates all one's holdings and it is considered as if G-d is being served, "with all your money."]

Tzedakah "brings close the redemption." Hence, we should conclude with the niggun, Sheyibaneh Beis HaMikdash. May the merit of thse three coins bring the Third Beis HaMikdash[230] and may it be in the immediate future.

   

Notes:

222. (Back to text) Several gatherings are held at the end of the summer, some for the children who return from sleep-away camps where the children spend 24 hours a day in a Torah environment, and others for children who attend day camps.

223. (Back to text) The holiness of the Beis HaMikdash effects the actual physical site of the building. For that reason, even when the Beis HaMikdash is destroyed, the site remains holy and may not be entered by those who are ritually impure.

224. (Back to text) The High Priest's entry was not an individual matter. On the contrary, he entered the Holy of Holies as a representative of the entire Jewish people.

225. (Back to text) The Torah is referred to as "our life." We find that, although a human being is a single organism, the life-energy invested in the brain is different from that of the heart and different from that of the hands and feet. Similarly, although the Torah is essentially one, there are various different aspects of Torah which provide particular instructions that are applicable at a given time.

226. (Back to text) Eretz Yisrael was given that name because it is the home of Yisrael, the name given to the Jewish people as a whole and to each individual Jew.

227. (Back to text) This Torah reading describes, in addition to the offering of sacrifices, the consumption of other meat by the Jews, providing guidelines to distinguish eating such meat from the meat eaten by other peoples.

228. (Back to text) The offering of the sacrifices was a communal activity, affecting each member of the Jewish people. For that reason, representatives of the priests, Levites, and Israelites all attended the offering of the sacrifices.

229. (Back to text) This is the simple meaning of the phrase in Ani Ma'amin, "I wait for him each day that he will come." Each day, we wait for Moshiach to arrive that day.

230. (Back to text) After the command to love G-d mentioned above, the Shema continues, mentioning, "the doorposts of your houses and your gates." This can be understood as an allusion to the ultimate Jewish house, the Beis HaMikdash and to the gates of Jerusalem.