The Proper Approach to Giving
Among the concepts discussed in this week’s Torah reading, Re’eh, are the mitzvot to tithe and to give charity.
Interpreting one of the verses, our Sages comment: “Tithe in order to become wealthy.” בשביל —translated as “in order to”, can also be translated as, “through the path.”
By tithing, a person creates a path through which Divine influence flows to him. For showing generosity to others is a proper medium to elicit Divine generosity and blessing.
Giving What Has Been Given
The rationale behind this approach is reflected in our Rabbis’ explanation of the verse: “Give him and do not feel bad in your heart,” that one should not feel bad when giving charity, because what he is giving is merely what he himself has been given by G‑d.
We are not due anything. Everything we have is a gift, generously granted to us from Above.
Taking the concept further, it can be said that included in what G‑d gives a person is a portion that is intended to be given to others. He gives us in order that we will give to those less fortunate.
When G‑d sees that a person is generous with the money entrusted to him for others and gives them without qualms, He increases the money He entrusts to the giver, providing him with the opportunity to add to the gifts he grants to the poor.
Indeed, the above verse can be interpreted “Do not give, because you feel bad for the other person.”
For a person should not give solely out of an emotional response to the other person’s need.
Instead, he should give out of the recognition that this is the reason he was granted the wealth and the success at the outset: so that he could share it with others and spread the goodness that G‑d has granted him.
True Wealth
The emphasis on the intellectual appreciation of the need to give adds another dimension to the idea that tithing leads to wealth.
Our Sages teach: “Who is a wealthy man? One who is happy in his portion.” Often, there are people who have been granted success, but have not been granted the peace of mind to enjoy it.
They are on a constant treadmill, always feeling the need to gain and accumulate more.
A giver steps off the treadmill. When he looks at others and makes a commitment to help them, the focus of his world shifts. Instead, of being only “I-oriented,” his outlook broadens.
When that happens, he gains an entirely new perspective on what he himself has been given. He is able to step back and appreciate how great are the blessings that he has been granted. That is true wealth.
Sharing the Wealth
This wealth should also be shared with the poor. Perhaps the most crippling dimension of poverty is the emotional and psychological constraints it creates.
To whatever degree possible, a giver should try to help the recipient in this area as well, enabling him to see beyond his need and appreciate G‑d’s kindness.
Adapted from the teachings of the Rebbe, Keeping in Touch; reprinted with permission from Sichos in English.
From our Sages
For you are a holy people unto the L-rd your G-d (Deut. 14:2)
The Torah enjoins us: you should be a holy people of your own free will and under your own initiative. Do not leave the task of making you behave properly to the gentile nations, who will make you holy martyrs through their decrees and their persecutions.
(Shaar-Chaim)
And you will say, "I wish to eat flesh," because your soul longs to eat flesh (Deut. 12:20)
The desire to eat meat originates in a person's soul. What then, is the connection between the food that one eats to sustain the corporeal body and the desires of the spiritual, intangible soul?
A Jew's G-dly soul "longs" to elevate and reveal the spiritual sparks of holiness which are concealed in physical objects.
The Torah states, "not by (physical) bread alone shall a man live, but by each utterance of G-d (the G-dly spark which is hidden in the food), shall a man live."
Eating flesh, or eating bread, is just one way in which the concealed sparks in the physical world are elevated by a Jew.
The Baal Shem Tov explained that when a person gets a sudden desire to eat or drink a particular food or beverage, the reason is that his soul desires to elevate the spark within that food, as it states in Psalms, "hungry and thirsty, their soul shall be enveloped in them."
(the Rebbe)
And your eye be evil against your needy brother (Deut. 15:9)
If you look at your poor fellow Jew with an evil eye, searching for defects and sins in him in order to explain your own stinginess and unwillingness to help, then "he shall cry out to G-d against you, and it shall be a sin in you"- G-d will regard you accordingly, searching for your even graver transgressions and defects.
(Rabbi Shmelke of Nicholsberg)
The blessing, if you will listen to the commandments of G-d (Deut. 11:27)
Being able to listen to G-d's commandments is in itself a blessing. You should be able to hear and absorb G-d's words in your very soul.
(Rabbi Shimshon Rafael Hirsch)
