We have mentioned before the importance with living with the times. We are now in the 10 Days of Repentance, the special days between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. During these days we are taught that increasing in doing acts of kindness and in giving charity help to nullify any negative decree.
The Gemara in Bava Basra discusses in great detail the power that giving charity has in changing a decree and even in saving one from death. By way of illustration, the Gemara provides various stories. In the Gemara of Shabbos (156b) certain stories are offered to demonstrate how Am Yisrael is above the effects of the stars, one of these concerns Rabbi Akiva.
Rabbi Akiva had a daughter. Various astrologers had predicted that this daughter of the great Rabbi Akiva was destined to die on her wedding day. As the day approached, Rabbi Akiva understandably had mixed feelings, joy for the Simchah while being aware of the predictions for his daughter.
The day following the wedding, Rabbi Akiva was joyously surprised to hear from his daughter. It appears she had lived, despite predictions, so he asked his daughter to describe what she had done the day before. It turns out that his daughter had placed a hair pin or broach in a crack in the wall prior to going to bed that night. On inspection it was discovered that this pin had pierced the eye of a snake and thus caused the death of the snake. This particular snake was a poisonous one that had been destined to bite Rabbi Akiva’s daughter, an act that would have been fatal.
In further discussion with his daughter, Rabbi Akiva discovered that at the wedding feast, his daughter (the bride) had noticed a beggar had entered and was not yet served. She took her own plate and gave it to the beggar. It was this single act of kindness and sensitivity to a fellow that had saved Rabbi Akiva’s daughter. As he declared when hearing what had transpired, “Charity Saves one from Death” (Proverbs), both from Gehinom and from an unusual death in this physical world.
As Yom Kippur is fast approaching, join us in spreading acts of kindness to our fellow Jew. You can make a donation towards any of the following:
- To repair a special Sefer Torah of 150 years old that will, G-d willing be used to begin a minyan and later a Shul.
- To assist a 2 year old to heal from a nasty keloidal scar by contributing towards her Kelocote. Kelocote is a silicone gel based ointment that helps with the healing process of scars, especially keloidal scars.
- To assist an orphan who has no living family able to help. The orphan needs help to cover costs for the Yomim Tovim and also to pay off a loan taken amounting to US$1000.
- To assist a Torah Scholar with purchasing a new pair of glasses
- To assist a widow to pay back a loan amounting to US$3000
- To help an Oleh Chadash repay certain expenses incurred from a health problem amounting to US$ 4500
- To assist with the progress of Yeshivas Dira BeTachtonim
- To assist a Jew with a visual disability to successfully make Aliya
- To assist a Jewish woman who is soon to retire and is struggling to make certain monthly payments.
You can participate or assist by either sending a donation via PayPal or if you live in
You can send a cheque made out to Rebbetzin Shoshanah Shear to
If you are unable to give in terms of money, you can also participate in our spreading of goodness and kindness.
We have a Worldwide Tehillim Group for Women. Please take a look at the postings regarding this group on the blog or email shoshanah.s@gmail.com for further details.
You can assist by giving of your time towards the various projects we are involved in. If you live in Eretz Yisrael, you can also help by inviting a group of your friends to join in a motivational talk or evening sharing chizuk stories. Proceeds from these evenings will go towards the above projects.
In the merit of your charity and acts of kindness, may all decrees for you and indeed for Am Yisrael be sweetened.
Please note, with guidance of an orthodox rabbi competent in Hallachah, that a percentage of monies donated is used to cover the bank charges and handling fees incurred in processing your kind and generous donations.
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