Parshas Terumah (5779)
As I opened up the Chumash (Bible) to the beginning of this week’s Torah portion, Parshas Terumah, and I began reading about all the contributions and donations that the Jewish people were being asked to bring in to help build the Mishkan (Tabernacle) in the desert, it got me thinking about the charitable donations that some Jews make, as well as the buildings that some Jews build, in the merit of their dear departed relatives.
[I can only imagine what it’s going to be like when the Messiah comes, and the Jewish people have to build the Third Temple. Will we see commemorative plaques on the walls with dedications like: “The Max and Sophie Goldberg Holy of Holies†or â€Menorah donated by Irwin Spiegel in Loving Memory of wife Helenâ€?]
If you ask most Jewish people what is the best thing one can do in this world to merit the neshamah (soul) of a departed relative in the next world, they will likely respond that it is the Kaddish prayer. However, this is incorrect.
In fact, when Rabbi Eliyahu Gutmacher (circa 1800), in his classic, ground-breaking work Succas Shalom, compiled a list of 4-5 items one can perform in order to provide merit for the departed, the recital of Kaddish was on the bottom of the list. [Now don’t get me wrong … According to Kabbalistic tradition, Kaddish does incredibly wonderful things for the elevation of the soul in the next world, more than we can ever imagine. I’m just saying that there are even more potent things one can do to help elevate the soul of a departed loved one in addition to the recital of Kaddish … and who wouldn’t want to do that?]
The absolute best thing one can do for the merit of a departed relative, according to the authoritative book Succas Shalom, is … engaging in Torah study.
Rabbi Yosef Han Norlingen (circa 1600) writes in his Halachic classic Yosef Ometz that the effects on the neshamah from learning Torah are “sevenfold†those that arise from the recital of Kaddish and leading the prayers.
And the Chafetz Chaim (circa 1900) bemoaned the fact that all too many mourners – who, to their credit, were particular to attend “minyan†in the synagogue and offer the pertinent prayers and recite the Kaddish on behalf of their loved ones – would leave for the day without learning any Torah.
“The prime act one can perform to benefit the soul of his parents,†writes the Chafetz Chaim in his book Shemiras Halashon, “is to engage in daily Torah studyâ€.
As it forms the essential body of merit-producing options, we will present the basic structure of Rabbi Gutmacher’s list here, in ascending order of potency:
~ Prayers – including Kaddish, Maftir, and Leading the Prayers in the synagogue (this last item contains the greatest merit of those mentioned)
~ Mitzvah acts (Tzedakah and Chessed; and especially to “adopt†and excel in the performance of a particular mItzvah act)
~ Torah study (sponsoring Torah learning is particularly beneficial)
[For more detailed information on exactly how to perform all these meritorious acts in the best and most potent way, I highly recommend reading the incredibly useful book: The Neshamah Should Have an Aliyah: What You Can Do in Memory of a Departed Loved One by Rabbi Tzvi Hebel.]
One more thought I would like to share with you before I let you go…
If any of you reading this are now contemplating engaging in daily Torah study or sponsoring a Torah class at your local synagogue in memory of your departed relative, just remember that you don’t have to wait until you die for your children and other family members to merit your soul through Torah study etc. – you can start meriting your own soul with these same acts right now - and it’s way more potent when you do it for yourself! Just sayin’…
[Sources: The Neshamah Should Have an Aliyah: What You Can Do in Memory of a Departed Loved One by Rabbi Tzvi Hebel, Judaica Press]
http://www.torchweb.org/torah_detail.php?id=551