The Torah Moshe commanded us is a legacy (inheritance) for the Congregation of Yaakov.
תורה. אֲשֶׁר צוה לנו משה מורשה הִיא לִקְהִלַּת יַעֲקֹב, אֲחַזְנוּהָ וְלֹא נַעַזְבֶנָּה:
The Torah that Moshe commanded us is a legacy for the Congregation of Yaakov: We have taken hold of it, and we will not forsake it!
- Who/What is the Congregation of Ya'akov?
- What does it mean that the Torah is a legacy?
- What (if any) difference does it make if the Torah is an inheritance vs. legacy?
- Do we treat it differently?
- Should we?
מעשה במונבז המלך שבזבז אוצרותיו ואוצרות אבותיו בשני בצורת וחברו עליו אחיו ובית אביו ואמרו לו אבותיך גנזו והוסיפו על של אבותם ואתה מבזבזם אמר להם אבותי גנזו למטה ואני גנזתי למעלה שנאמר (תהלים פה, יב) אמת מארץ תצמח וצדק משמים נשקף אבותי גנזו במקום שהיד שולטת בו ואני גנזתי במקום שאין היד שולטת בו שנאמר (תהלים פט, טו) צדק ומשפט מכון כסאך אבותי גנזו דבר שאין עושה פירות ואני גנזתי דבר שעושה פירות שנאמר (ישעיהו ג, י) אמרו צדיק כי טוב כי פרי מעלליהם יאכלו אבותי גנזו [אוצרות] ממון ואני גנזתי אוצרות נפשות שנאמר (משלי יא, ל) פרי צדיק עץ חיים ולוקח נפשות חכם אבותי גנזו לאחרים ואני גנזתי לעצמי שנאמר (דברים כד, יג) ולך תהיה צדקה אבותי גנזו לעולם הזה ואני גנזתי לעולם הבא שנאמר (ישעיהו נח, ח) והלך לפניך צדקך כבוד יקוק יאספך:
It is related of King Moonbaz that he dispersed all his own wealth and the wealth of his family (to those in need) in years of scarcity. His brothers and his father's household came to him and said, 'Your father saved money and added to the treasures of his ancestors, and you are squandering them. ' The king replied: 'My fathers stored (their wealth) up below (the earth) and I am storing above it, as it says, Truth springs out of the earth and righteousness looks down from heaven. (Psalms 85,12) My fathers stored in a place which can be tampered with (lit. touched), but I have stored in a place which cannot be tampered with, as it says, Righteousness and judgment are the foundation of his throne. (Psalms 89,15) My fathers stored something which produces no fruits, but I have stored something which does produce fruits, as it is written, Say ye of the righteous [zaddik] that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat of the fruit of their doings. (Isaiah 3,10) My fathers gathered treasures of money, but I have gathered treasures of souls, as it is written, The fruit of the righteous [zaddik] is a tree of life, and he that is wise wins souls. (Proverbs 11,30) My fathers gathered for others and I have gathered for myself, as it says, And for thee it shall be righteousness [zedakah]. (Deuteronomy 24,13) My fathers gathered for this world, but I have gathered for the future world, as it says, Thy righteousness [zedakah] shall go before thee, and the glory of the Lord shall be thy reward. (Isaiah 58,8)
- What is King Moonbaz' point to his relatives?
- What sort of legacy does it seem he wants to leave behind?
- What does King Moonbaz value?
- How does he express it?
- What do you value?
- How do you express it?
- What do you want to leave behind when you're gone?
One day, he was walking on the road and saw a certain man [Honi] that was planting a carob tree. He said to him, 'How many years until this [tree] will be laden [with fruit]?' He said to him, 'Until seventy years.' He said to him, 'Is it obvious to you that you will live [another] seventy years?' He said to him, 'That man found the world with carob trees. In the same way as my fathers planted for me, I will also plant for my children.'