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How to Know When You’re Giving Too Much

A Taste of Text—Chukat

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How to Know When You're Giving Too Much: A Taste of Text—Chukat

While devoting yourself to helping others, safeguard time for your own spiritual and emotional growth. Focus energy inward as well as outward.

Handouts:	Chukat
Audio:	Listen to Audio \| Download this MP3
Topics:	Chukat-Balak, Red Heifer, Self & Fellow, Chukat

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Chana Weisberg is host of the Ordinary People, Extraordinary Stories podcast and curator of advanced learning experiences on Chabad.org. She lectures internationally on issues relating to women, relationships, meaning, self-esteem and the Jewish soul. She is the author of six books. Her latest book, Shabbat Delights, is a two-volume series on the weekly Torah portion.

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Anonymous July 3, 2018

I was so curious all along the way until the end but I still feel like the question wasn’t answered...they said in the beginning that we will know how to know when we are giving too much, if the moment you give you become impure, at least according to the parasha, then how does that tell us to know when we are giving too much?

Is it simply by not leaving a portion aside for ourselves? But the focus of the lesson the majority of the time wasn’t on why leaving the portion for yourself (or them leaving the portion of the ashes for future generations) was so important, but on the purity aspect. So we know we have to give of ourselves and know we could become impure in the process and to give selflessly and these are all great things, but how do we -from this lesson- know when we are giving too much? Where in the lesson did we learn it? Reply

Ann Bentley USA July 1, 2017

Was Blessed from this teaching. A word in due season for me! Reply

Alicia Delong Belton July 16, 2016

Fantastic! Thank you! Reply

Paul Nelson Milan, PA USA June 22, 2014

Good Clarity! Thank, Rebbetzin for a great lesson. I am learning so much from your videos that I have stopped watching secular T.V. You make everything clear and easily understandable.
Todah Rabbah! Reply

John Guzman Houston, Texas August 8, 2012

Red Heifer Thank you for this timely wisdom! You helped me to obtain an uplifting moment when I felt totally exhausted from attempting to help others. I hope to experience other bits of wisdom like this to keep me going. Reply

C.J.Kovacs SA, Australia July 2, 2012

Red Heifer This really taught me so much. Thanks Reply

Randy K. Castro Valley, Ca.USA June 29, 2012

I'm touched This lesson came jest at the right time, to help me with a situation, with a friend. When I'm ignored for a while, I feel my friend doesn't feel the importance I feel, in keeping in touch. I get hurt, and I tell that friend. I feel less than who I know I am. I have lost many friends, when I'd pull out of the friendship, feeling there would be more hurt, down the road for me. It's hard to know how much Love I can expect, and hold back to a fair amount of giving. Reply

Justin Roth Staten Island, NY June 27, 2012

On looking out for the "I" I feel that looking out for oneself first and foremost is not only in the interest of the individual, but in the interest of society at large. If a person is lacking what they need mentally, physically and/or spiritually, there is nothing to give to others. How can one look out for one's fellow if they are deficient in what one essentially needs?
So, yes, look out for the needs of others, but only after your own needs are met. Reply

Anonymous martinez, ca June 24, 2012

Good presentation I enjoyed listenting to this and passing on to friends.

Eileen Reply

Anonymous sakaka, Saudi Arabia June 24, 2012

How to Know When You're Giving Too Much The issue of ritual impurification and purification of impure person, and the ashes of the red cow, and those who take them to purify their impure brothers should not forget to look inward to the self; this is a great lesson for every person to dedicate time to the inward looking. Reply

Irene Glen Burnie, Md USA June 24, 2012

The Red Heifer Shalom:

I loved your teaching on giving too much. My question is "why a red cow?

My husband and I had a farm and raised red Hereford cows. Plus other breds of cows. Hereford was our favorite for their nature and taste.

So why does the cow have to be red. I am not saying we raised a Red Heifer like the Bible says, only that all the cows seem the same to me. I don't understand the specialness of the Red Heifer. Please enlighten me with your knowledge of this.
Thank you for your time. Reply

diana henry newport, vt June 24, 2012

It does make sense Not to take away from the concept of a Chok and the gift of laws that we don't understand that Hashem has given us, but ashes mixed with water constitute soap, and that is the best and most primary disinfectant there is. One can appreciate the infinite wisdom of Hashem and still not play ignorant, which our teachers all do, about simple recipes and remedies of life that at one time were probably unknown. Today one does not need to be a rocket scientist to know how important physical cleanliness is and how to compound remedies to stay alive and able to communicate with our maker. Reply

A Taste of Text

Each 20-minute video class uses a text from the weekly Torah portion to convey a contemporary insight on leading a more enriched life. Source sheets are included to help students follow along and gain a "taste" of the actual texts studied.

How to Know When You're Giving Too Much: A Taste of Text—Chukat

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