Rabbi Doniel Staum, LMSW
Rabbi, Kehillat New Hempstead
Rebbe/Guidance Counselor – ASHAR
Principal – Ohr Naftoli- New Windsor
STAM
TORAH
PARSHAS
RE’EH 5775
“GIVE
WITH FAITH”
R’ Bentzion Dunner of London
On the night of Purim 2008 he distributed
more than a million pounds to charity. He gave multi-millions of dollars to
Bobov and Skver and over fifty million dollars to charity in 2007. He often
said that he viewed himself as a ‘gabbai tzedakah’; that G-d had granted him
wealth merely so that he could be in charge of disseminating it to those in need.
On March 21, 2008, R’ Bentzion was
driving with his three children from Golders Green to Bournemouth ,
with his wife following in a second vehicle. He suddenly lost control of his
car, which veered off the road and into a ditch, killing R’ Bentzion instantly.
Miraculously his children survived.
A relative of R’ Bentzion approached
the great sage, Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky shlita, and asked him, “Does it not say[1]
“Charity saves from death”? How could a person who dedicated his life to
charity and never spurned a needy person, have died so young[2]
and so tragically?”
Rabbi Kanievsky replied curtly and
emphatically, “He was supposed to die twenty years ago!”[3]
The mitzvah of giving charity is one of the
hallmarks of Judaism. The amount of charitable organizations and the donors who
support them are a testament to our dedication to helping our brethren. The
amounts of charity given by the most generous non-Jews are laughable when
compared with the charity given by the average Torah Jew who gives ten percent
of his income to charity. But even greater than how much we give is how
we give it. A Jew must do his utmost to ensure that the recipient does not feel
shamed or embarrassed for his neediness. “Who is like Your People Israel, one
Nation in the land?”[4]
“If there shall be a destitute person among
you… you shall not harden your heart or close your hand against your destitute
brother… You shall surely give him, and let your heart not feel bad when you
give him, for it is because of this matter that Hashem, your G-d, will bless
you in all your deeds and in your every undertaking.”
The Sages constantly impressed the tremendous
importance and merit involved in giving charity:
·
“We are obligated to be careful in regards to the mitzvah of
charity, more so than any other obligatory mitzvah… The throne of Israel Israel
·
“The mitzvah of charity is tantamount to all other mitzvos.”[6]
·
“One is obligated to give charity with joy and a good heart.”[7]
·
“One who gives charity with a doleful face loses his merit”[8]
·
We do not recite a blessing when giving charity because we are
obligated to give joyfully and most people lack that level of joy and
enthusiasm when giving.[9]
Why is this mitzvah so valuable that it is
equal to all other mitzvos? Also, why are there so many nuances and additives
involved in giving charity? Isn’t it hard enough to give up one’s hard-earned
money; why should one be obliged to give joyfully?
Nesivos Sholom explains that charity is not
merely about giving away money. The ability to give away one’s own resources in
order to help another must be rooted in faith in G-d. If one truly believes
that he will get whatever he is destined to receive from G-d (as long as he
does his part) it will be far easier for him to give.
This idea is expressed in the Mishna:
“Rabbi Elazar of Bartosa said: Give Him from His own, for you and what is yours
are His”.[10]
Whenever one gives charity he is essentially giving back to G-d what is His.
G-d ensures that money and resources are granted to whomever He deems should
have it. Our role in giving charity is only that we have an opportunity to
overcome our nature and receive merit and reward for taking part of G-d’s Work,
as it were. But in the end, our actions and efforts notwithstanding, every
penny only ends up where, and to whom, G-d wants. This attitude and mindset is
an integral part of giving charity.
One who gives charity dolefully or
begrudgingly demonstrates that his faith is somewhat wanting and he has not fully
fulfilled the mitzvah of giving charity. On the other hand, one who is able to
feel joy when giving demonstrates that his faith in G-d is strong. Such a
person has essentially achieved the underlying goal of all mitzvos, i.e. to
fulfill the Word of G-d by subjugating ourselves to His Will and demonstrating
our faith in Him. Therefore, when fulfilled properly, the mitzvah of giving
charity is equivalent to all other mitzvos.
Every Jew is innately kindhearted and
benevolent. It is part of our genetic makeup, dating back to our patriarch
Avrohom[11].
But there are certain Jews who dedicate their lives to being charitable and
helping others. The truest level of chessed (kindness) is accomplished by one who
seeks to help others altruistically, for the sole purpose of being a giver.
The great Chassidic Master, Rabbi Mendel
Rimanover, was once learning with his students when he was interrupted by an
impoverished individual who begged him for charity. The man appeared bedraggled
and disheveled, his clothing was torn, and his face looked gaunt. Rabbi Mendel
immediately turned to his gabbai (sexton) and instructed him to go into his
private room and take a gold coin from his coat to give to the poor man. When
the poor man received the sparkling and expensive coin, his face lit up. He
thanked the Rebbe profusely and left in a state of great joy.
Rabbi Mendel immediately resumed his
studies. But about five minutes later he stopped again. After a moment of
silence, the Rebbe again called over his gabbai. He asked him to please hurry
and find the poor man who had just left his home and ask him to return
immediately. The gabbai rushed out and soon found the poor man wandering
through the market place, apparently trying to decide the best way to spend the
generous donation he had just received. When the poor man heard that the Rebbe
wanted him to return he looked crestfallen. He was certain that the Rebbe
realized that he had given him too much and wanted to exchange it for a silver
coin.
The poor man begrudgingly made his way back
to the Rebbe, his eyes downcast. But as soon as he walked in the Rebbe
apologized for bothering him to return and handed him a second gold coin. The
poor man was beside himself with joy and confusion. “Holy Rebbe, if the Rebbe
had intended to give me such a magnanimous donation in the first place why
didn’t the Rebbe just do so?”
Rabbi Mendel explained, “When I originally
gave you the gold coin it was given wholeheartedly. However, after you left I
realized that I had really given it to you out of compassion. I felt pained by
your appearance and was struck by pangs of compassion. That would mean that I
had given the coin to you in order to fulfill my own need to assuage my
conscience.
“In parshas Re’eh when the Torah commands
that one give charity it says, "נתן
תתן" which literally means “give you shall give”. The redundant
wording teaches us that if one gave charity out of feelings of mercy and
compassion he must give again altruistically. It was for that reason that I
called you back, so that I could give you that second coin purely out of a
desire to help a fellow Jew.”
There’s giving and then there’s giving!
“The mitzvah of charity is tantamount to
all other mitzvos.”
“Give you shall give to him, and let your
heart not feel bad”
[1] Mishley
(10:2 & 11:4)
[2] he was in
his 40s
[3] There are
exaggerated versions of the story that have circulated, including that R’
Bentzion had been in a car accident in that exact spot twenty years prior. I
asked R’ Zev Dunner, R’ Bentzion’s brother and an activist with Torah Umesorah,
about the story. I have written it as he told it to me. He added that Harav
Kanievsky was very clear in his response. He did not say, “Perhaps he was
supposed to die twenty years ago”, but was very emphatic. R’ Bentzion was
granted twenty years of life because of his philanthropy.
[4] Shabbos
afternoon prayers
[5] Rambam,
Matnos Aniyim 10:1
[6] Bava Basra
9a
[7] Sefer
Hachinuch, mitzvah 479
[8] Rambam,
ibid 4
[9] Meor
V’shmesh, parshas Pinchas
[10] Avos 3:18
[11] see gemara
Yevamos which states that kindliness is one of every Jew’s character
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