Jax’s DT for Thursday-subbing for nooseisko!
*******D’Var Torah Rosh Hashana******
Rosh Hashana is known as Yom HaDin. The Heavenly Court judges our actions of the previous year and determines our fate for the coming year. It is imperative that our good deeds outweigh our bad deeds. Not only are the deeds themselves counted, but the ramifications of these deeds count. Not only do the number of deeds count but the quality counts, as the following tale, originally told by the venerable Rabbi Elias Schwartz illustrates:
A miser once died and was called before the heavenly court. In the courtroom there stood a scale. His good deeds were placed on one side. His bad deeds were placed on the other. Prosecuting Angels came and placed numerous deeds on the sinful side of the scale, while the mitzvah side remained empty. This scale would determine his fate in the next world and things were not looking good.
The man cried out, “Surely I must have some merit.”
At that point a scrawny little angel limped in and placed two small coins on the scale. Not much happened. The angel left and returned, limping back in with a loaf of bread which he threw on the scale. Still not much.
Again the angel returned dragging in a sack of flour which he heaved onto the scale. It still wasn’t enough to tip the scale in the old man’s favor.
Now the angel came back to the courtroom hauling in a huge farm plow. The weight of the plow was enough to offset the other side. The good now outweighed the bad. The man now received a favorable judgment.
The man was totally grateful and asked the angel where he came from and where he got these items from. The angel explained that with every mitzvah a person does, an angel is created. This angel defends you in the Heavenly Court. I am such an angel.
The angel related, “Once, a poor man came to you begging for alms. You gave the man two coins. With that, he had amassed just enough money to buy a loaf of bread that he needed to feed his family.”
“The baker, after selling that last loaf of bread was able to buy another sack of flour that he needed to continue his business. The farmer after selling that one more sack of flour, was finally able to afford the new plow which he desperately needed to continue his farming operation.”
“You got credit for all these good things that you set into motion with your one deed,” explained the angel to the man.
“I am so thankful to you for saving me; but, tell me: Why did it=2 0take you so long to show up? Why are you limping?”
“I guess you truly don’t remember,” replied the angel, “The truth is that when that poor man first asked you for help, you refused. He pleaded with you a second time and you still refused. Finally he begged you for assistance with his sustenance. At that point you threw the two coins at him, stomping your feet and screaming. At the moment you threw the coins at him, I was created.”
“But why do you limp?” asked the man.
Not only are the deeds themselves counted, but the ramifications of these deeds count. Not only do the number of deeds count but the quality counts!
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May we all be inscribed in the Book of Life. May we all merit a good, sweet, new year,
Jax