a man (Hebrew word: Adam) from among you will bring an offering to Hashem (Vayikra 1:2)

Rashi comments on the second verse in this week’s parsha – he is bothered because the Torah uses the word “Adam” for man. Why doesn’t the Torah use the word “Ish” which is what is normally used? Rashi explains that the word “Adam” does not only mean ‘man’. It also is a reference to Adam, the first person in the world. Since Adam was the first person in the world, he owned everything. Therefore, when he brought an offering, it was not from stolen property. This verse uses the word “Adam” to teach us a law – just as Adam did not use stolen property to bring an offering, so too whenever a Jewish person brings an offering, he should not bring it from stolen property.

Why do people steal? Why do they cheat in business? Why do they cheat on their taxes? Why do they take other people’s money? Some people justify it by stating they do it for good reasons. They are giving the money to tzedakah! They are supporting their family. And they say that what they are doing is not real stealing anyway. They may say, “The Government… it’s a mitzvah to steal from them. They are so corrupt anyway.” It’s sad that the supply cabinets at companies need to be locked up in August and September because people think, “I’ll just take school supplies for my children from here. No one will ever notice and this job owes me anyway. Do they realize all I do for them!”

Whatever justification a person might have, stealing is forbidden.

I am not writing this, Heaven Forbid, to imply that people that read Divrei Simcha are involved in stealing. I am writing this because there is a deeper lesson here that I think we can learn, which is people steal because they want to better their financial situation.

Let me tell you a secret. Hashem knows your financial situation and He placed you in that situation for a reason. Do you think He needs any help giving you more money? Rav Bentzion Shafier asks in one of his lectures, “How much money does Hashem have?” Think about this. Hashem owns all of the diamond mines. Hashem owns all of the rubies in the world. He owns all of the oil. He owns everything. To give an individual person a few extra hundred or thousands of dollars is nothing to Him. He has more than enough money to share. He does not want to share it though because He knows what is best for you.

When people steal, they are basically telling Hashem that they know better than Him. They are unhappy with the assessment Hashem has made of them. The lesson to us is that even though we are not involved in stealing, we should remember anytime we are having trouble with our finances that Someone is watching over us. And that Someone has a lot of money (when I say a lot, I mean A LOT!). And that Someone knows what is best for you and He is making sure that you have what you need. And, of course, that Someone is Hashem.

Good Shabbos!
-yes
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