Blinded By Money

0:06Sometimes a person can be bought. I mean, there's a pasuk in the Torah that the eyes of the wise are blinded by money. And the Gemara, I believe, Masechet Shabbat, says that how is it that the 250 rabbis at the time of Moshe Rabbeinu were the biggest rabbis in the world, all on the level of prophecy, and they all chose Korach? Sometimes a person can be bought. I mean, there's a pasuk in the Torah that the eyes of the wise are blinded by money. And the Gemara in, I believe, Masechet Shabbat, says that how is it that the 250 rabbis at the time of Moshe Rabbeinu were the biggest rabbis in the world, all on the level of prophecy, and they all chose Korach. Instead of Moshe Rabbeinu, the prophet of all prophets. So the Gemara in Masechet Shabbat says it's because Korach was the richest man of the land and he was also very generous. So he gave them a lot of money over time. So by the time he kept giving them money, money, money over time, what ended up happening is that little by little his opinion became more right in their eyes.

1:11became alright. Why? Because every time he said, "So what do you think?" he gave him a check for a million dollars. He said, "You know what? Whatever you just said, I like it. I like it. I like it. I like it." So by the time he said, "By the way, I want to go against Moshe Rabbeinu," they liked his idea so much it was too far. Why? Because he said, "If I don't like it, it's going to cost me a hundred million dollars. So I like it. I like it." So that's the thing. So sometimes a person has to be very, very careful of who he's giving to. Because if rabbi that you're giving it to, the Torah institution that you're giving into is going to change the Torah for you, you should not give them a penny. If the rabbi is going to change his opinion for you, you shouldn't give him a penny—a penny you shouldn't give him. Why? Because you're just buying an actor. Actually, you're not buying the Torah. You're not investing in the Torah. The Torah doesn't change for you. It doesn't matter what kind of check you write. This is one of the things rich people have a frustration with us. They sometimes want to donate, but they expect to change the Torah, so when they get the same exact Torah, they decide that sometimes yes, sometimes no. Many times they run away because they thought that maybe they could buy the Torah.

2:32But, you know, Baruch Hashem, we have a few decent people that, you know, have gotten the rebuke on their head a few times, but stay generous regardless. You know, but many times somebody gets the truth, and they run away. They run away because they don't like it. A few times it happened. A few times it happened where someone got an answer that they didn't like, and instead of being a generous donor, they at times turn into enemies. I know one day I was Mashiach for them; the next day, I became Korach. The toast, the both of them, I became all 250 rabbis, all 250 I became. Why? Because I told them something they didn't want to hear, but it was still according to the Torah. So that's the thing, if a person wants to buy the Torah, look somewhere else. Don't come to Be'ezrat Hashem. know one day I was Mashiach for them; the next day I became Korach. The toast to both of them—I became all 250 rabbis, all 250 I became one day. Why? Because I told them something they didn't want to hear, but it was still according to the Torah. So that's the thing: if a person wants to buy the Torah, look somewhere else. Don't come to Baruch Hashem. But if you want to buy authentic Torah, what Torah says, that's Baruch Hashem what we have and what we do. But that's very hard. It's very hard for people because, I can tell you even from my own experience, it's not an easy test.

3:34sunny test I don't, I don't, uh... uh... you know I don't, uh... I'm not jealous of the test of anybody else that has this issue because it's very easy, it's very easy, you know, to try to be more lenient when there's a lot of things on the line because you could rationalize it. So let's say, for example, know somebody, you know, you want to build a yeshiva. You have a certain number of students, a certain amount of Torah, and a certain number of good things that you have planned. But you don't have the money. Then this one guy, this reformed, deformed rasha, says, "Listen, I'll give you a check for 10 million dollars to build your yeshiva, and I want you to put my name on the building. I want you to give me honor, even though he's a rasha." It's very hard to say no to that. Why? Because you're thinking, listen, he's a rasha. Who cares about him? I really don't like him. Well, I'll put a stupid name on the building. Who cares about his name? At least I can teach all these boys Torah, right? I can help all these people do Torah, right? That's a good thing. It's a very hard decision. It's a very hard decision. Very hard decision. Why? Tzadikim wouldn't take the money. Tzadikim wouldn't take the money.

4:49Yeah, but it's $10 million. Let it be $100 million. Make a difference. If Hashem wants me to have the money, He'll give it to me in a kosher way. Now, it's very easy to say that in a lecture. It's very hard to live it. Very hard to live it because many times you're going to get tested. You're going to get tested at times when it's hard to say no to money. And we, baruch Hashem, we get tested. Baruch Hashem, so far so good. But it's not an easy test, especially when you're talking about big money because you know you have needs, you have plans, you have this, you have that. It's not an easy thing to say no when you have needs, and you also have good involved too. You're figuring, okay, there's like one percent bad but 99 percent good, so your brain will say it's worth it, it's worth it, like you know you're going to war. know, especially when talking about big money, because you know you have needs, you have plans, you have this, you have that. It's not an easy thing to say no when you have needs, and you also have good involved too. Like you're figuring, okay, there's like one percent bad, but like 99 percent good. So your brain will say it's worth it, it's worth it, like you know you're going to war. know to win against the enemy, surely some people that are not really your enemy are going to die—collateral damage, they call it, right? So, you justify the big war and killing innocent people because you're going to beat the big enemy that caused bigger bad. So, you're thinking that the mitzvah world is the same way: I can make a little bit of, like, for the sake of, you know...

6:09but it's very hard. Very, very hard to stand the test. And it's not an easy test. And it's a daily test. But nonetheless, it's a test that a person has to pass. Has to pass. And we succeed in passing it. With what's going on in the world today, It's not an easy world for people in any aspect, whether it be money, health, family, or this or that. Everybody is getting their own share of tests. The goal that we have is to give ourselves, you, and anyone who's watching enough strength from the Torah and the Mussar that we learn to be able to overcome more tests than not, and hopefully arrive next week even better than we did this week, and little by little get closer and closer to where HaKadosh Baruch Hu wants us to be. We're very excited to offer you the new Be'ezrat Hashem app 3.0. It's a newer, faster app, full of Torah, lots of Kedusha by the shiurim that we do. Myself, Rav Ephraim, Rav Chaim.

7:18where you'll also have newer features, allowing you to use the app while you're using other applications on your phone. You'll be able to share the lectures directly from the app. You'll be able to donate online and support our kehillah and our Torah work that we're doing. And the most exciting feature is that you'll be able to actually ask questions directly on the app and get answers from the rabbis directly from the app. This is something unprecedented, and Baruch Hashem we will be able to offer it. Thank you again for all of your support. Check it out. Make sure you have the Kosher Torah that will re-energize your neshama each and every single day. Kol tuv u'bracha v'hatzlacha.