Hand to Mouth

Many people live constantly hand to mouth.  For others it’s an occasional event, a hard time, a rough patch.  

A fundamental of Jewish faith is that G-d is the provider of our sustenance.  This is reflected in the very beginning of the prayers after we eat, (hum along) “hazan es haolam kulo bituvo…” He sustains (feeds) the entire world with his goodness, His grace, HIs kindness and His mercy.

When you are in that moment of darkness where you wonder how are you going to pay the electric bill, where will you get money to pay for your bread, how are you going to survive, that is where the challenge of faith kicks in.

Notwithstanding that we live in a time of abundance, there are those that struggle with this daily and for all of us in our various endeavors we encounter moments where it may not be literal bread for lunch, but we wonder how is the business going to survive, will the business survive.

A simple but beautiful Mitzvah in this Parsha lends support to this faith. 

Im Kesef Talveh Es Ami – if you lend money to My people.  The Torah gives us a framework for loans that they should be given interest free.  Our Sages understand this word Im that it is not optional, if you choose to lend money or not.  Rather, when a poor or needy person comes along requesting assistance we have a Mitzvah to lend money.

This is Hashem’s way of providing assurance that even in the most difficult of times He has a system and a structure for our survival.

“Cast your burden upon Hashem and He will sustain you”.  The faith is critical, the understanding that the resource is out there by Divine instruction is life saving.

Have a great Shabbos!