The Most Valuable Thing You Can Give Isn't Money | 10@2026 | 2026.08.02

The Mitzvah of Tzedakah is often translated as "charity," but that misses its deeper meaning. Tzedakah is about justice, responsibility, and caring for another human being with dignity. In this week's Parsha, the Torah introduces the Mitzvah with an unexpected word: Laymor - "to say." Why begin a commandment about opening our hands with a word about speaking? Perhaps because the greatest gifts are not only the ones we place in someone's hand, but also the words we place in their heart. Words can restore dignity, awaken hope, and give another person the strength to keep going. A remarkable story about the Tosher Rebbe, Rabbi Meshulum Lowy, shows how a few carefully chosen words transformed the life of a young man in crisis. It is a powerful reminder that the most valuable thing we give another person may not be our money at all. Michael Whitman is the senior rabbi of ADATH Congregation in Hampstead, Quebec, and an adjunct professor at McGill University Faculty of Law. ADATH is a modern orthodox synagogue community in suburban Montreal, providing Judaism for the next generation. We take great pleasure in welcoming everyone with a warm smile, while sharing inspiration through prayer, study, and friendship. Rabbi Whitman shares his thoughts and inspirations through online lectures and shiurim, which are available on: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5FLcsC6xz5TmkirT1qObkA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adathmichael/ Podcast - Mining the Riches of the Parsha: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/mining-the-riches-of-the-parsha/id1479615142?fbclid=IwAR1c6YygRR6pvAKFvEmMGCcs0Y6hpmK8tXzPinbum8drqw2zLIo7c9SR-jc Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3hWYhCG5GR8zygw4ZNsSmO Please contact Rabbi Whitman ([email protected]) with any questions or feedback, or to receive a daily email, "Study with Rabbi Whitman Today," with current and past insights for that day, video, and audio, all in one short email sent directly to your inbox.