Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 23 Av, 5783

Today’s Torah portion is about the “second tithe.”  Moses was reminding people the importance of giving back – because it is so important that we do not forget the source of all we have; Hashem.

My contribution to “giving back” is to share the wisdom I have received from reading the Torah daily – and putting it back out into the world as a gift. It’s not much – but it’s what I have to give.

It doesn’t HAVE to be money.  We are coming to the end of the third cycle of Torah I have studied.  In 5781, I began reading Torah for myself. In 5782, I began sharing a commentary of the Torah daily on facebook.  In 5783, I dug deeper and began to apply concepts from the Torah and my previous commentaries to work towards spiritual freedom and liberation.  I don’t share all of what I am learning – but I share a lot.

But this isn’t about me – this is just an example.

How do we “begin again?”  The Torah cycles. The moon cycles. We have Genesis. We have the new moon.  What does that look like for us?

We have one week until the new moon of Elul.  This is a perfect time as we come through the darkness and into the light – as we approach the final moon cycle before Rosh Hashanah – how will we “finish strong” in 5783?  How do we “begin again?”  It is time to start setting our intents for Elul – and – setting our intents for 5784.  What do you want to accomplish? What do you what to do.  But more importantly? Who do we want to BE?

What are your thoughts?

Here is my commentary from a year ago:

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 28 Av, 5782

We are winding towards the new moon and the new month. Elul is coming, and that brings more new-ness as we enter into the days of awe. It also means we are coming to the end of the Torah; where we enter the promise land of liberation, and then finish out the book of Deuteronomy and then return to Genesis.

Let’s dig in!

Moses is telling the people to make sure they give back some of their bounty that God has provided from the produce of the seeds.

The idea here is that Charity builds wealth. It’s difficult to wrap our heads around this; but the more we put out into the world, the more that gets returned.

And why should we tithe when we become liberated? Because Moses tells us – so that we will continue to be in awe of the amazing things Hashem has done for us; for all time. It’s so we don’t forget.

One of the themes I see in Torah come up a lot is the idea of freedom and liberation breeding forgetfulness of what led to that freedom and liberation. And. The redemption that comes from remembering and turning around and re-establishing the remembering.

In Meditation -and in all practices, relationships, connections; one of the things I’ve learned is the concept of “begin again.” Each moment we get off track, we can return to our anchor point (mostly the breath) and just “begin again.” This simple practice really builds mind muscle to allow ourselves to move beyond our thoughts.

So – we can always “begin again” with this idea of giving charity; especially when we enter freedom and liberation.

Before COVID hit; I had a side gig (hoping to be able to start it back up soon). Whenever I got a job and got paid, I made sure to take a portion out and pay those who helped me gain the knowledge it took to do the training. I’ve reached out to people from my past with a contribution as a way to thank them for teaching me; for free. I share this not to pay myself on the back; but to give a practical example of things we can do to remember how we got to where we are!

How often do we gain things for free, accept them, and then don’t return that kindness to others when we are liberated?

That is the message here. Give back. Give tzedaka. From the Chumash:

“If you consider the many benevolent acts that you have done in the past, and will continue to do in the days and years ahead, you will surely realize that there is a great deal of meaning to life.”

Do good. Be kind. Live well, friends!

What are your thoughts?