Twenty-eight years ago, I embarked on a project, to send out a weekly D’var Torah. I called it the Shabbat Shalom Fax – since at that time, February 1995, faxes were the means of spreading information to the masses in a timely fashion. After some time, recipients began calling it the Saks Fax.
As technology advanced, we began sending the Shabbat Message through email and postings on various media platforms. Thank G-d it has grown to be sent to many thousands of recipients.
My goal was for the material to be understandable and inspirational for all to appreciate.
Boruch Hashem, with this week’s edition we complete twenty-eight years of publishing the Shabbat Message!
Each week, about mid-week, my wife Malki inevitably asks me if I have something in mind to write. At times I say something is jiggling in my mind, but most of the time, it is developed at crunch time.
People ask me in advance, to dedicate a future Message in memory of a loved one. I think to myself, how are they so certain that I will come up with something to write for them to have an opportunity to dedicate a future edition?
It somehow works. I will call it Siyata D’Shmaya – Heavenly assistance. We are taught that whenever one dedicates themselves to a task, even when it seems daunting, if it is approached with the intention to spread and promote G-d’s magnificence and understanding, one will be met with Siyata D’Shmaya and be able to accomplish their goal.
The organization that I run is called Jewish Heritage Connection. It was founded in 1991 with the goal of exposing all of our brethren to the beauty, magnificence and authenticity of G-d and his Torah. The Shabbat Message is part of this mission.
During the course of a day in the life of my father, Rabbi Boruch Saks o.b.m., he interacted and spoke to the entire spectrum of Jews, of all ages and backgrounds. Whenever he gave a speech, he connected with his audience on their level. He was a master of being able to have the listener understand his message on their own level of understanding and appreciation of the subject he was discussing.
He once told me that he learned this lesson of not speaking in esoteric or highly intellectual terms that are beyond the grasp of the audience, from the famous Chofetz Chaim o.b.m. The Chofetz Chaim was a prolific writer whose works cover the entire gamut of Torah and Halacha. My father said, “Take notice, when the Chofetz Chaim writes and addresses the masses, it is filled with beautiful Torah insights. Often the message is accompanied by a parable or story that brings the message home to all.
I hope and strive to follow his example.
After I write my draft, I send a copy to my wife to get her opinion, and I send one to Rabbi Shmuel Flam, a Rebbi at the Yeshiva of Scranton. He looks it over for the content and also uses his skill to edit the message. I then send a copy to Mrs. Madeleine Jacobs who puts her editorial expertise to work. I thank each of them!
I thank the readers for their comments, questions and critiques. I thank all our friends and supporters for all your encouragement and assistance.
I turn to Hashem and thank Him for everything, and I ask for continued Siyata Dishmaya!
In this week’s Parsha the Torah speaks of the special ingredients of the Ketores/Incense that was offered in the morning and evening on the Temple’s inner golden Altar.
The Torah forbids anyone from making the exact incense recipe for personal use.
It is interesting that the Torah lists only four of the eleven ingredients. The other seven ingredients were taught to Moshe by G-d when he was in Heaven and he then taught to us orally.
Rabbi Zalman Sorotzkin o.b.m. explains that since the Torah forbids making the exact formula of the incense, the Torah did not write its full and explicit information, in order that people not have easy access to it. It is only known by those who are committed to delve into the oral law and therefore we are not concerned they will make it for themselves.
The Torah tells us earlier that the incense altar should be placed in the Temple area called the holies. The Torah in our portion adds that the incense altar is to be positioned and aligned directly opposite where the Ark of Testimony was and not just anywhere in the holies.
Rabbi Moshe Feinstein o.b.m. explains that the Torah is conveying through this, a personal message to each of us. The beautiful aroma of the incense parallels the impression one’s actions has on others. Just as an aroma spreads to far out areas, and one smells it even if they don’t want to, so too, a person’s actions or statements can have influence upon people who don’t know or recognize the one who is performing the action.
Reb Moshe says, we influence people through the way we conduct ourselves, since people are always looking at us. Therefore, the way to make the most effective positive impact on others is to follow the example of the incense altar and to always be aligned with the Torah Ark. This way the message and scent we give off will be most pleasant, inspirational and effective!
