New Opportunities = New Responsibilities

The Talmud says about the nature of Man: “Yesh Lo Meah, Rotze Mosayim – when one made 100, they then crave 200.” Man was created to grow. Part of our DNA make up is the desire to have more, the NEED FOR GROWTH. We are never satisfied with what we have, which is a positive emotion if driven with the right intentions.

One of the three things that broadens the mind of man is a beautiful home. Our “nest” - the place we call home, where we feel comfortable to be ourselves, is something we constantly strive to make nicer, bigger and better. Its part of our innate being, part of our essence.

With a new home there are many Mitzvos one is obligated on keeping. The more known ones are putting up a Mezuzah. In this week’s Torah portion, however, "When one builds a new home, one is obligated to fence in the roof." Why?
Simple translation, that there shouldn’t be any blood on your hands if one was to fall off your roof.

The Kabbala and Chassidism gives a different view on things in life and on this mitzvah.

Man desires for more, ones portfolio and investments are not enough, ones small home has become too small and wishes to build a new home. Spiritually we all have “NEW” projects – “NEW” homes. With these “new” projects comes new challenges - new oppositions, physically this may translate as new worries, new responsibilities. Spiritually however, it’s new harassment from our very own evil inclination. The animalistic soul in us uses every opportunity to instigate and cause us to sin, especially at times when we reach new heights. When we acquire a “NEW” home – When we take upon ourselves a “NEW” Mitzvah, this is the “new investment” that we now have “new worries” about.

The Torah therefore tells us "When one builds a new home, one is obligated to fence in the roof." When one takes upon themselves a “NEW” spiritual home, a new mitzvah, another commitment for Yiddishkeit – for the Jewish community – one must fence themselves – brace themselves with extra protection against the opposition from the Yetzer Horah – the Evil inclination, that animal soul which is in every one of us, who will want to cool us off from the excitement of our “NEW” home – our new commitment.

This week my brother Rabbi Moshe Dovid Winner got married. For him and his wife Leah they are building a “NEW HOME” in every sense of the word, we wish them the best of luck, combined with health, wealth and G-d willing much Nachas.
Congratulations to my parents Rabbi Zushe and Esther Winner the directors of Neshama- Chabad Lubavitch of W Brighton Beach with long life and blessing in their holy work.

May we all share in many Simchas together.

Rabbi Avrohom Winner
www.ChabadManhattanBeach.com