B"H

Friday, Menachem Av 24, 5780 / August 14, 2020

One of the mitzvot which Moshe emphasizes in this week’s Parsha, Re’ay, is the importance of the mitzvah of Tzedakah (charity) - helping the poor and needy.

Toward the end of the Parsha, Moshe tells the Jewish people, “If there be among you a needy person, one of your brethren, within any of your gates, in the land which the L-rd your G-d gives to you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your needy brother.  You shall open your hand unto him, and shall surely lend him sufficient for his need for what he needs.”

One can be charitable by contributing money or time.  Our sages teach us that if one lacks financial means, he or she can still help by volunteering to collect funds and be involved in charitable causes.  The Talmud states, "One who influences others to give is even greater than the one who gives."

According to our sages, one should not wait until the person is in dire need and lost all self respect and dignity.  We should help them while they are "still on their own two feet." 

They explain it with the following analogy: A horse and donkey were carrying a load for their master.  The donkey's load was extremely heavy and exhausting while the horse's load was light. 

The donkey turned to the horse and pleaded, "Please help me with my load as I feel that I cannot carry it too much longer. If you don't help, I will soon fall under my heavy burden." But the horse refused. 

A little while later the donkey fell to the ground and died.  The owner now transferred the donkey's entire load onto the horse!

The same, say our sages, is when someone needs help. If we refuse to help and the other person falls, then G-d may transfer that person’s load over to the one who refused to help!  However, if we do help that person we are in effect helping ourselves.

The following story is in the Jerusalem Talmud:  Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair once came to a city where the people complained to him, "We have a well that supplied us with enough water for all our needs.  But, lately, it doesn't give as much water as it used to and we are in dire need of water."

Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair said to them, "Perhaps, you are being punished measure for measure because you are not giving proper tithes to the poor from your produce!" The people realized that they were indeed lax in the giving of tzedakah and took the sage's words to heart.  They became careful with their charity and the well again gave water in abundance as before.

SHABBAT SHALOM

Montrealcandle lighting time: 7:44 / Shabbat ends: 8:49