Multiplying Blessings

This week’s Torah portion is Parshat Toldot. In this Parsha, we learn how our patriarch Isaac ploughed a field during a year of famine. The field was barren and dried out. The Torah tells us that Yitzchak found “a hundred fold” that year. Before the farming was started, the field was appraised to see how much it would produce and for each measure that they estimated, they got 100. This calculation was done so they can measure how much would need to be tithed, as the commandment of Ma’aser. Our sages relate an additional miracle that occurred. This hundred-fold was after they had already taken off Ma’aser. Once the produce was already in the storage room, that is when they multiplied.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe explains that the benefits one receives from doing a Mitzvah comes in two stages. Firstly, nature itself, the field, produced more than it was expected to. And after Yitzchak gave Ma’aser, the miracle changed to higher level, it became a supernatural miracle. Why was this additional miracle required? To tell us that when we do a Mitzvah, we

go to a higher stage, and we can break the laws of nature.

The Torah tells us that Yitzchak continued to grow, and was successful to the point that he needed to leave the country. When we do something good, not only do we exceed our expectations but we can reap the benefits in ways beyond nature.

Wishing you a supernatural Shabbat!

Candle lighting time: 5:29 PM