HOW HASHEM GIVES TZEDAKAH
The holy Tzaddik, Rav Avrohom Yehoshua Heschel, the Apta Rav, once told how Rebbe Reb Melech of Lizhensk was once his guest and spent the night. The Apta Rav said, “During his stay, I gave him his own room. I once entered his room and observed and overheard how the Rebbe Elimelech sat and began to recite and review his actions. He was tallying his deeds and misdeeds and trying to calculate whether he deserved a portion in Olam HaBa, and this is what he said to himself:
“‘Nafshi, nafshi! O woe is me, my soul, my soul! You are unworthy of Olam HaBa!’ He proceeded to list all his shortcomings and then attempted to comfort himself:
‘Even if you are truly unworthy, never fear – still Hashem, in His infinite mercy and kindness, will grant you a portion in Olam HaBa, because our sages taught (Sota 14a) that Hashem Himself fulfills the entire Torah: He comforts mourners, marries off brides and grooms and does acts of kindness and charity. Now Olam HaBa is not physical, so there is no food or drink there, so how can Hashem fulfill acts of charity there? Rather, He acts charitably by granting even such unworthy people as ourselves a portion in Olam HaBa; He gives them this portion as a gift and a charitable act.’”
