Parasha Thoughts
By Rabbi Yitzchak Ariel
Our holy and wise sages point out to us (Kohelet Rabba 5: 20) that when a person enters this world his hands are shut and when a person departs from this world his hands are open. The Ben Ish Hai points out that in this statement our sages are teaching us something very profound. Coming into this world represents the physical aspects of life and with regard to those one must exercise his ‘closed hand’ or his self-control and ability to hold back. In leaving this world, however, one’s hands are open because he is now entering the world to come where he will be the recipient of great blessing and reward. This, says the Ben Ish Hai, can be applied to a verse in our Parsha.
The Torah tells us (Devarim 15:7-8) “You shall not close your hand from your impoverished brother. Rather you shall open your hand to him.†The Hebrew word “ki†translated as “rather†in the above verse can also be translated as “because.†Based on this, the verse can also be read as “You shall not close your hand from your impoverished brother because you will open your hand to Him†(Hashem). In this light, the Torah is telling us that we should make sure to give charity and not hold our hands back because one time or another every individual will pass away and their hands will be open to accept the blessings of Hashem in the next world. In order to be able to be a recipient of Hashem’s good in the next world, we must only exercise closing our hands when it comes to the physical indulgences of this world. However, when it comes to spirituality, one must practice the usage of his ‘open hand’ and not withdraw or hold back.
The Ben Ish Hai goes one step further and says that Hashem’s interaction with us mirrors our interactions with others. If we are giving to others, Hashem will be giving to us and if we withhold from others Hashem will withhold from us. This is alluded to in the verse in psalms “Hashem is your shadow on your right hand.†Just as a shadow is an image of one’s stances and actions, so to Hashem mirrors and mimics our actions. While this is true regarding all of a person’s actions and traits, it is specific to the mitzvah of charity, as it is mentioned in the Tikunei Zohar that the right hand mentioned in the above verse represents giving charity.