We invited all our married children to a Chanukah party to celebrate the holiday together. My wife asked how much money we should give to each married child as Chanukah gelt. I told her that I had thought of giving 400 shekels to each one as a way to support them, especially since, Baruch Hashem, they are Torah learners. Supporting Torah learners is a particularly great mitzvah during Chanukah, as the Greeks‘ intention was to uproot Torah study.
I went to my business to take the required amount from the safe. When I arrived at the office, my family member who works there was present. I calculated that, Baruch Hashem, I have three married children and asked her to take out 1,200 shekels from the safe. However, as I made the request, I decided to give 500 shekels to each one instead. Then, thinking further that one mitzvah leads to another, I asked for 600 shekels per child, totaling 1,800 shekels.
The secretary, who is also a relative, jokingly asked, “And what about me? Don‘t I deserve a little Chanukah gelt too?” I told her to take 200 shekels for herself as Chanukah gelt. She was very happy, and I went home. All the children were delighted with their Chanukah gelt, and the party was particularly joyful for everyone who participated.
But the story did not end there. The next day, a dear friend I had known for many years knocked on my door and handed me an envelope. When I asked, “What is this, and what is it for?” he replied that it was shadchanus - matchmaking fees that had gone unpaid for many years, and he had decided to settle the debt. It was for a match I had suggested long ago, and I never expected to receive even a single penny for it.
I explained to him that I was happy to have been a part of establishing a Jewish home and that in our community, it is not customary to accept matchmaking fees, so I never dreamed of getting anything. However, this man insisted that in his community, it is an obligation to pay shadchanus, and he pressed upon me to accept it. And how much money was in the envelope? Exactly 2,000 shekels—no more, no less!
I saw with my own eyes that when one spends money on a mitzvah, they never lose out. Even the 200 shekels I gave to the secretary came back to me immediately!
ל.מ.
