By Avrohom Barash
R’ Yissachar Dov Rokeach of Belz would distribute sedakah to poor families before the yamim tobim to enable them to purchase what they needed for the holiday. Then, on ereb yom tob, he would send money to these needy people again. His son, R’ Mordechai, the Rav of Bilgoray, did not understand the purpose of the second donation, especially since its arrival at such a late hour did not allow the recipients to make use of it for holiday needs.
The Belzer Rav explained, “The money I sent these families earlier has enabled them to purchase food for yom tob so that they will enjoy the holiday. But how can a poor man be happy when he knows that immediately after yom tob he will be in the same dire straits again? He will once more find himself destitute, wondering where he will get the funds for his next meal. By sending this second sum, I ensure that these unfortunate individuals will be able to enjoy the holiday without worry about how they will manage as soon as the holiday ends. (Excerpted from the book “A Mazeldig Voch”)
Reprinted from the Parshas Bereishis email of The Weekly Vort.
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