Whose Lack Is It?
"...you shall open your hand to him, and you shall lend him sufficient for his needs, which he is lacking." (Deuteronomy 15:8).
The mitzvah of charity is intended to fill the lack of the poor person, not the lack of the wealthy person who seeks to increase his own honor and to accumulate mitzvot.
(Ktav Sofer)
Do Not Rob the Poor of Their Poverty
“Do not rob a poor man because he is poor...” (Proverbs 22:22).
You don’t want to give charity? Then don’t give. But don’t steal from the poor person his poverty – don’t claim that he is not worthy of receiving charity.
(Rabbi Ze’ev of Strikov)
An Agent of Divine Providence
What you give to the poor was given to him from Heaven, and you are merely the agent. Likewise, if you have the ability to help your friend, the help you give is from Heaven—it’s just that the merit to assist was brought about through you.
(Hafla’ah)
Train Yourself to Give
“You shall surely give him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him...” (Deuteronomy 15:10).
Rashi explains: “You shall surely give him—even a hundred times.” If you give a hundred times and accustom yourself to giving and giving again, then naturally “your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him”—you won’t regret your generosity, for habit becomes second nature.
(Iturei Torah)
A Lie or Lashon Hara
During World War I, when the Chafetz Chaim was living in the city of Smilovitz, the condition of the poor worsened. The Chafetz Chaim addressed the residents and urged them to give generously. But when he saw that his words were met with indifference, he cried out:
“Dear brothers, what will I answer when I am summoned to the World of Truth and asked whether the residents of Smilovitz supported the poor? If I say they did, it will be a lie; and if I say they didn’t, it will be lashon hara (slander). Do you want to cause me to stumble in either falsehood or lashon hara?!”
As he said this, he burst into tears from the depths of his heart. His heartfelt plea opened the hearts of the townspeople, and they immediately began to raise their donations.
The Chafetz Chaim then said: “Now I can say that the Jews of Smilovitz give generously—without uttering a false word.”
This issue of Living Jewish is dedicated in memory of Moishe Yaacov ben Aharon & in the merit of a Refuah Shleima for Avi ben Faige Miriam.
