Parshas Re'eh 5786
- Torah Tavlin
- Aug 7
- 2 min read
כי פתח תפתח את ידך לו והעבט תעביטנו די מחסרו ... (טו-ח)
MASHAL: There is a famous story brought in the journals of Vilna that demonstrates how precisely Hashem values personal effort in performing acts of kindness. Years ago, the wife of the Vilna Gaon zt”l made a pact with a close friend that whoever passes away first would return in a dream to share what transpires in the World to Come. Following her friend’s passing, the woman appeared to the Gaon’s wife and explained that while souls are normally forbidden from revealing the inner workings of Heaven, she was permitted to share a single, startling reality. She vividly reminded her friend of an incident when the two had gone from house to house raising funds to support widows. As they were walking, they spotted a wealthy woman across the street. While the Gaon’s wife merely called out to her, the friend raised her hand in the air to catch the woman’s attention.
The friend revealed that for the simple act of raising her hand to secure those charity funds, great reward was added to her portion in Olam Haba. That tiny, extra physical gesture placed her in a completely different caliber of spiritual existence. Precise calculations are made for every movement performed for the sake of a mitzvah. The next day, upon hearing the account, the Vilna Gaon instructed that the episode be transcribed in the city’s official records for posterity.
NIMSHAL: The double phrasing "פתח תפתח" (surely open) teaches us that Hashem rewards every single movement, and repetitive physical effort invested in giving tzedakah, rather than just the final financial outcome of the charity itself. Every tiny gesture is meticulously measured and rewarded.