The Children of Israel went out armed (Hebrew word: Chamushim) (Shemos 13:18)
Chamushim: one of every five went out of Egypt and four-fifths died during the three days of darkness (RASHI)

Which is the most important bill that you pay every month?

I recently had a very disturbing conversation with a friend of mine. He was complaining how yeshiva tuition is so expensive. He then mentioned tuition is so out-of-hand that it almost costs as much as his mortgage. When I responded, “Baruch Hashem!” he got upset. My friend felt his mortgage payment is much more important than yeshiva tuition payments.

Unfortunately, my friend is not the only one to feel this way. My wife told me a story of someone she was speaking with who bought a new car a short time before asking for tuition assistance from the yeshiva. This person told my wife,”why should I spend my money on the yeshiva when I can spend it on something important like a new car?” Of course, the person told the yeshiva that she “needed” the car and that is why she bought it a few days before the tuition assistance meeting.

Let me share with you a story from the Midrash. A large group of people boarded a boat to travel to a new homeland. Everyone had numerous suitcases filled with all of their possessions – everyone, except for one man. He had a small bag with some clothes in it. The other travelers asked him where all of his possessions were and he responded they would see when they arrive in the new land. Everyone laughed at him.

In the middle of the journey, a pirate ship took over this boat and the pirates threw all of the suitcases overboard. Everyone was left with nothing. As the boat pulled into the port of the new land, everyone wondered what secret possession this man with the small suitcase had. They followed him off the boat and saw him run to the Bais Midrash. In the Bais Midrash, he began learning and teaching Torah. The people then realized that this man possessed something which the pirates could not take.

The most important bill I pay every month is my children’s yeshiva tuition. Although we do need to live in this world and have physical possessions, these are secondary to Torah learning. Our possessions can be stolen or destroyed at any moment. Our Torah learning can never be taken away from us.

Eighty percent of the Jews in Egypt did not leave. For a few months, they were living a comfortable life in Egypt (the slavery ended on Rosh Hashana). Things were going well for the Jews. They were able to build nice homes and acquire possessions. Moshe came and told everyone it was time to leave. Eighty percent did not want to leave. “We have so many nice possessions now. We’re living a good life – why should we go into a desert and live in small tents.”

Hashem taught those Jews (and us) an important lesson – this is the wrong way to think! Our possessions are not the most important thing in our life. Our houses and cars are important, but the Torah is much, much more important. Therefore, the most important bill we pay every month should be the yeshiva tuition bill or for those not paying tuition, then whatever money we spend on the Jewish community (shuls, Kollel, tzedakah funds, etc.) are the most important bills. The money we give to tzedakah can never be taken from us!

Good Shabbos!
-yes
please send any comments or questions to: [email protected]
to see previous Divrei Simcha on the Parsha, please go to www.divreisimcha.com OR www.chesedclub.com > Torah Study