According to One’s Needs
“And He will give me bread to eat and a garment to wear” (Bereishit 28:20). Bread to eat—not to store up; clothing to wear—not to fill the closets. Yaakov asked that Hashem give him only according to his needs.
(Rabbi David of Lelov)
Luxuries Are Dangerous
When a Jew has his essential needs—“bread to eat and a garment to wear”—he remains attached to Hashem and behaves as a Jew should. But when he begins to live a life of luxury, very often it comes at the expense of a proper way of life.
(Kli Yakar)
Livelihood and then Repentance
This is what it says in Tehillim (90:3): “You bring man to the crushing point, and You say, ‘Return, O sons of men.’” How can one ask a Jew to repent when he is, Heaven forbid, in a state of being crushed down, crushed into the dust? Provide, please, Master of the Universe, the needs of the Jewish people, and then they will return in repentance.
(Rabbi Zusha of Anipoli)
Trust Opens the Gates
One who prays for livelihood is included in, “One who comes to purify himself is assisted from Above,” because by praying to Hashem for his livelihood and believing and trusting that only Hashem gives him his sustenance, he thereby causes the gates of livelihood to open.
(Rabbi Moshe of Kobrin)
