How Not to Embarrass the Taker:

The Way of Emunah | August 05, 2026

The Chida zt'l (Sefer Pnei Dovid) learns this pasuk to be teaching us how to give tzedakah in a way that does not embarrass the taker and in a manner that does not require him to feel beholden to the giver. One can do this by going over to a poor man and saying, "A wealthy man gave me some money to distribute to whoever needs it. I want to give you some of it. Please take it."

Accordingly, the pasuk is saying: "Nasan titein lo." This can be translated to mean that you should give in a manner that looks as if you are giving someone else something that was given to you, rather than your own money. It then says "your heart shall not be bad when you give to him", which can be understood to mean that you should do it this way so as not to embarrass him. The pasuk concludes by saying that if give in this way, Hashem will bless you greatly.

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