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By Rabbi Gedalia Fogel
Hi! This is Rebbe speaking. This week’s parsha, Parshat Re’eh, speaks about Tzedaka. Tzedaka is the act of giving to others. The definition that usually comes to mind when Tzedaka is mentioned is giving to the poor, but really Tzedaka means giving to anyone that is in need. It may be to a guest, to a family that has a new baby, to a friend that does not have snack. These are all means of Tzedaka.
Money is a gift from Hashem. It is placed in our possessions in order to do with it what Hashem has commanded of us. Of course we may use it for our pleasure but we must make sure to distribute some of it to others. There are many benefits promised when one gives Tzedaka. It is written “צדקה תציל ממות” Tzedaka saves one from death and תשובה, תפילה וצדקה מעבירין את רוע הגזרה””Tzedaka is one of the things that save us from bad decrees.
The highest form of Tzedaka is when those that give Tzedaka do not know to whom they are giving and those that receive the Tzedaka do not know who gave it. There are many ways one can perform this great Mitzvah. One can give money, food or a place to sleep to those in need.
Nachum and Yehudit were on their way to the government office to clear a mistake in their insurance. It was crucial that they have all the paperwork necessary for them to reinstate the medical insurance for their family.
“Please check to make sure we have all the birth certificates and social security cards for everyone.” said Yehudit for the third time that morning. “I’ve already checked and have put everything into this manila envelope.” answered Nachum. “Please check once more. I don’t want to be missing anything.”
Nachum once again emptied the contents of the manila envelope onto the kitchen table. “Sarah’s birth certificate and social security card, Moshe’s birth certificate and social security card, Naomi’s, Miriam’s, Binyamin’s…Oh no, I do not see Binyamin’s social security card. Didn’t we have it just a moment ago? Yehudit, we’re missing Binyamin’s social security card. I shook out the entire enveloped and looked everywhere I cannot find it.”
Yehudit and Nachum spent the next ten minutes combing their home for the card. They did not have much time left. Where could the card have disappeared? They checked the drawer where these important documents were kept. They stuck their hand into the empty envelope shook it up and down many times and looked on the table and floor over and over again.
“Let’s give money to Tzedakah. Maybe in that merit we will be able to find this card. I can’t believe it’s not here. I just had it moments ago!”
Nachum placed $18 in Tzedaka and prayed to Hashem that he find the missing card. There was no way that he could afford to pay for medical insurance for his family and it was crucial that this meeting go well.
Right after they gave Tzedaka, Yehudit once again checked the manila envelope. She was sure that it was empty but on impulse shook it again. Sure enough Binyamin’s social security card came right out. From where? Who knows. But Nachum and Yehudit could promise that the envelope had been empty and this was nothing short of a miracle.
If a person gives he will get in return. There is a set amount of money that Hashem allots to each person. Those that give Tzedaka will not lose out. The money that they used for Tzedaka was given to them for the purpose of distributing to others. If they do not use that money for Tzedaka then they will lose it some other way. The Siach Eliezer, a great Rabbi, Reb Eliezer Chaim of Yampoli, was a one of the first Rabbis to reside in America in the early 1900s. He is buried in Mount Judah cemetery near Queens, New York. Many people go to his gravesite for a blessing and their prayers are answered.
He would distribute all the money in his home to the poor. He would not go to sleep unless every penny in his home was distributed.
One day, Lemel, a poor man, came to the Siach Eliezer with a request for a blessing. He did not have enough money to buy food for his family and wood to warm his home. His wife and children were hungry and cold.
The Siach Eliezer gave him a blessing and told him, “Tomorrow go and buy a lottery ticket. Use the numbers…”
The next morning, bright and early, Lemel bought a lottery ticket with the numbers the holy Rabbi had told him. Sure enough he was the lucky winner!
Lemel returned the Siach Eliezer. “I’ve been blessed! But I have one question. If the Rebbe knew the lottery numbers all along how come you did not buy the lottery yourself? The Rebbe can use the money too.”
The Siach Eliezer answered sharply, “This money was intended for you. Does a mailman ever open up the mail that he delivers and take the checks and cash for himself?” “No, of course not! That would be stealing.” Lemel answered. “Well then, I am like the mailman. I too am delivering the money intended for you. For me to use the lottery numbers for myself would be stealing.”
The Siach Eliezer clearly pointed out that the money that we have is sometimes intended for others. Hashem has given it to us to be the mailman to deliver it. |
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