D'var Torah: Binyamin HaTzadik ministered the communal charity fund. Once a woman appealed to him for help during a draught. He told her that all the money in the fund had already been distributed. She said, "Rabbi, if you don't help me, I and my seven children with perish." Rabbi Binyamin supported her from his own private resource. Subsequently, Rabbi Binyamin became very ill. The angels approached HaShem, saying, "It says in the Torah, 'If a person saves one life, it is as if he saved the entire world.' How much more so, when one man saved eight souls." HaShem immediately rescinded the decree and granted Binyamin HaTzadik another twenty-two years of life.
Moral: The ultimate goal of the Torah is repentance and good deeds. Binyamin HaTzadik's compassion and kindness fulfilled the essence of the Torah. Therefore HaShem granted him an additional twenty-two years, corresponding to the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet, from which the Torah is comprised.
Application: Review the story of Binyamin HaTzadik and be inspired by his compassion and kindness. Contemplate on someone who needs your help. Think of the best way to help him and put your plan into action. Help him with an effective and heartwarming act of kindness. Perform your kindness with the same dedication and commitment, as if you were Binyamin HaTzadik. Rejoice in your fulfillment of the Torah and the great blessings that HaShem grants you.
(Based on Bava Batra 11)
