יום ד Date: 19 Cheshvan, 5774 (11/12/14) – Yevamos#39 {Tani}

PERFORM TODAY!

[39b middle] Gemarah: If there are few brothers who a widow falls to as a Yevamah, even though it is preferable that the eldest brother do Yebum or Chalitzah, if the eldest brother is away overseas, we do not wait for him to get back. Rather, the next oldest brother is asked to step in because we do not delay the performance of a definite Mitzvah on the possibility of a of future “better” performance.

Prac-T-cal Tidbits: It is always better to do things here and now even if we think we could do “better” down the road. In Pirkei Avos we learn, “If not now, when?” And elsewhere we learn, “Do not push off learning for tomorrow what you could do today (because one does not know what tomorrow will bring).” Always accomplish what we can today, as that is what is expected of us. Do not push off opportunities thinking that we can do them better at later times.