Please click on the image below to download a printable PDF version
THE WEEKLY SIDRA- REAY
Rabbi Moshe Greebel
In this week’s Sidra, the Mitzvah of Tz’daka (charity) is discussed:
“You shall surely give him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him; because for this thing HaShem your G-d shall bless you in all your works, and in all that you put your hand to.” (D’varim 15:10)
Concerning this giving to the poor, Rashi instructs there:
“You shall surely give him…..even a hundred times.”
In the text Imrei Kohain, we are told of Rav Avraham Abish of Frankfurt, who died in 1769 of blessed memory, that he would most lavishly spend when it came to the Mitzvah of Tz’daka. Money never seemed to stay the night at the home of Rav Avraham Abish. The story is told that one of his Talmidim (disciples) once asked him how he could be so extravagant when it came to Tz’daka. For, the Gemaros in K’subos 50a, 67b, and Erchin 28a have this to say:
“Rav Iloy stated, ‘It was ordained at Usha that if a man wishes to spend liberally, he should not spend more than a fifth.’”
Basically then, if one wishes to spend lavishly on Mitzvos, he should spend no more than one fifth of his entire wealth. How then, could Rav Avraham Abish have spent almost everything he had on Tz’daka?
Rav Avraham Abish answered in the following manner. When it comes to Pikuach Nefesh (saving of a life), the Halacha of spending up to a fifth does not apply. For, even a matter so serious as Shabbos, can be put aside to save a human being. Whenever we see someone so poor that he has absolutely nothing to eat, this is a matter of Pikuach Nefesh, and we must also put aside the limit of a fifth.
This principle of spending more than the required fifth for Tz’daka, can be seen from the Gemarah in Kiddushin 8b:
“(If he says to a woman,) ‘Be betrothed unto me with a loaf of bread,’ (and she replies,) ‘Give it to the poor man,’ she is not betrothed, even if he was a poor man who relies on her. Why? She can say to him, ‘Just as I have a duty towards him, so do you have a duty to him.’”
Now, continues the Imrei Kohain, how could our Gemarah have this woman tell the suitor to give the loaf to the poor man? Was it not possible that the suitor had already spent a fifth of his wealth on Tz’daka? Therefore, we clearly see that the Gemarah was not concerned at all, with the suitor spending beyond his allotted fifth, when it came to Tz’daka.
The Mishna in Avos 3-7 has this to say:
“Rabbi Elazar, a man of Bartosa, said, ‘Give to Him that which is His, for you and what is yours are His…..’”
The simple explanation of this is that one should not become haughty after giving to Tz’daka. For, all that we have is by the grace of HaShem, and truly belongs to Him. We then, are nothing more than transfer agents.
Yet, is it possible that under certain circumstances, something we give to Tz’daka is actually ours alone to give? This question is addressed in the text Gilyonei HaShas (Rav Yosef Engel), where the following Gemarah in B’rachos 6b is elaborated upon:
“Mar Zutra says, ‘The merit of a fast day lies in the Tz’daka dispensed.’”
As stated prior, normally, the money we dispense to Tz’daka is not ours, but rather belongs to HaShem. Yet, on the day after a Ta’anis (fast day), whatever Tz’daka we give, is ours alone to give. Prior to proving this principle, we must first explain something about two of the names of HaShem.
The name spelled Yud, Hay, Vov, Hay is considered by our Chachamim to be Midas HaRachamim (characteristic of mercies). The name Elokim is Midas HaDin (characteristic of judgement). Of course, judgment is more stern than mercy. We return to the Gilyonei HaShas:
These two names are elaborated upon in the words of the commentary of the Tosfos Yom Tov, who wrote in the third chapter of Sh’losha Sh’Achlu:
“In Birkas HaMazon (grace after meals), we recite Elokeinu (judgment), and in Birkas HaTorah (blessings over the Torah), we recite Yud, Hay, Vov, Hay (mercies). Since HaShem created all life, it is only correct by judgment, that He support what He created. The Torah however, was given to us as a Chesed (a merciful kindness- Mishlei 31:26).”
Hence, concluded the Gilyonei HaShas, our sustenance comes to us by way of judgement, and what is not spent on ourselves for food on a Ta’anis therefore, must then belong only to us. And, that is the meaning of the Gemarah when it states, “The merit of a fast day lies in the Tz’daka dispensed.” This is a rare opportunity for us to be generous with what is truly ours alone.
May we soon see the G'ulah Sh'laimah in its complete resplendency- and in our times.
Good Shabbos.
The National Council of Young Israel's Divrei Torah Bulletin is a weekly newsletter. If you'd like to receive our weekly e-newsletter with the Parshat Hashavua, Click here to sign up!
