Parshat Re'eh: Putting in Your Two Cents: A Few Torah Tips on Giving Tzedakah

BS"D

Good Shabbos wonderful readers!  I hope that this week's parsha post may be a zechus for a refuah sheleimah for Shifra u'Bracha bnos Ester Rivka.

*********************************

This week's parsha splits its seams with mitzvot!  Today, though, our focus will be placed on the mitzvah of tzedakah, commonly translated as "charity", but more accurately indicating "righteousness".  We will now delve into a few core "how-to's" from the Torah, on giving tzedakah.

 

*********************************

Tzedakah Tip #1:  One Must Prioritize...

If an individual receives a chance to show kindness in giving, whether someone in need knocks right on his door, or he receives unfortunate news of a faraway town struck by disaster (Chas v'Shalom, G-d forbid) the Torah proclaims:

"Ki-yihiyeh v'cha evyon mayachad achecha b'achad sh'arecha b'artzcha asher-Hashem Elokecha nosein lach lo t'amaitz et -l'vavcha v'lo sikfotz et-yadcha mayachicha ha'evyon.  Ki-patoach tiftach et-yadcha lo v'ha'aveit ta'avitenu di machsoro asher yechsar lo. 

If there shall be a destitute person among you, any of your brethren in any of your cities, in your Land that Hashem, your G-d, gives you, you shall not harden your heart or close your hand against your destitute brother.  Rather, you shall open your hand to him; you shall lend him his requirement, whatever is lacking to him." 

{Devarim 15:7-8}

We see here, that the Torah encourages and pushes us to help anyone we can and as much as we can, according to what we can afford, as it says "any of your brethren in any of your cities", and that we must be sensitive and open to their requirements.  But if we have what to contribute, and we devote it all to the very first person who expresses need of (financial) assistance...  we might not be left with provisions to support the next person, who might need it even more!  Hopefully this doesn't sound harsh, and hopefully, we won't come into an awkward situation in which we may have to, at least temporarily, refuse someone.  Because the Torah gives us some very wise advice: to prioritize.  Try to discern, who presently is most desperate for help.  Those who will be in a dire situation without your swift assistance must be attended to first.  After this case, which may involve even a stranger, one must reach out to their family, if they require it.  Your family takes precedence over everyone else, and families stick together in both times of happiness and challenge.  Remember the adage "Charity starts at home"?  When it comes to the impoverished of the city, the Talmud (Bava Metzia) rules "Aniyei ircha kodmim laniyei ir acheres - The poor of your city come before the poor of another city."  Start with who's closest to you, and branch your way outwards.  With this sensitive approach, and your tzedakah beginning by changing and uplifting lives locally, you will ultimately change the world.

Tzedakah Tip #2:  Strike a Balance...

Chazal, our Sages, teach us the importance of finding balance in giving.  One must not donate irresponsibly, thereby reducing himself to poverty (how can he support anyone further in that case?), but he mustn't be over-calculating (nor stingy!), either.  There is a certain beauty to giving without re-evaluating each individual dollar...  One reference from Chazal on this sort of evenness may perhaps be Rabban Gamliel's teaching of "Al tarbeh l'aseir umados - Do not give excess tithes by estimating (instead of measuring). {Pirkei Avos 1:16}"  Maaseros, tithes, must be diligently and specifically measured according to the Torah's directives.  But never forget the eternal call of "lo t'amaitz et -l'vavcha v'lo sikfotz et-yadcha - do not harden your heart and do not close your hand".  Acknowledge what manner of giving tzedakah is most suitable for you, and you will discover the joy of being able to consistently give, with all the love and generosity, each and every time.

Tzedakah Tip #3: Attitude Matters...

A famous pasuk:  "Nason titein lo v'lo-yayra l'vavcha b'sitcha lo ki biglal hadavar hazeh y'varech'cha Hashem Elokecha b'chal ma'asecha uv'chol mishlach yadecha -- You shall surely give him (a person in need), and let not your heart feel bad when you give him, for in return for this matter, Hashem, your G-d, will bless you in all your deeds and in your every undertaking. {Devarim 15:10}"  What exactly does the Torah mean, when it reminds us to "not let your heart feel bad", when giving?  It is hinting that we must not extend our hand with the money (or other support) all the while wearing a bitter or pained countenance (whether it's because one doesn't derive such pleasure from giving charity, or any other reason).  The greatest way of giving tzedakah, is by doing so wholeheartedly, and going into it with a positive attitude.  Sincerity, and a smile, can make all the difference.  Anyone can donate money to a worthy cause, but can everyone do it with joy?  That is something really admirable.  The Gemara clarifies this in its teaching, that 'Whoever gives a coin to poor person, merits 6 blessings.  But one who smiles at him, speaks kindly with him, and makes him feel comfortable, merits 11 blessings!'  That is five more blessings from Hashem, in return for our offering even one coin, to His child in need that He loves.  From here, we are clearly shown that the giver receives even more than the person, on levels both material and spiritual, to whom he extends his hand.  A person can give a lavish gift, but totally resent it, whilst someone who doesn't have much can give a small gift, but radiate care and concern.  It all depends upon the giver's attitude, to determine whether or not it is real tzedakah, real righteousness.

************************

A final beautiful bit from Tanya.  Giving tzedakah, in Torah and tefillah has been likened, to the planting of seeds.  Plant the seed of a fruit tree, one seed, and what do you get?  Many seasons of bountiful fruit.  So too it is with tzedakah-- it merits so much more than we even put in towards it.  With this giving, we merit Hashem's bounty, which He delivers by His ray of Divine energy, that He beams in to our lowly world, daily.  But we only become worthy of these brachos, and come close to Hashem, when we show what we can, and will, do for HIM-- by showing love, and emulating His generosity, to others in the world around us, Hashem's creations and children whom He loves.

Rabbi Akiva says in Pirkei Avos {3:17}, that "Masros s'yag la'osher - Tithes are a protective fence for wealth", and according to Rabbi Gordon of blessed memory, the "best insurance" for your fortune.  The driving inspiration to give, is spiritual.  And this giving, we are taught, in turn, protects our wealth, the material.  (And tzedakah, by the way, is also significant for those travelling, known as Shaliach mitzvah money,  a mitzvah and segulah to ensure safe travel.)  Once more our eyes are opened, to how everything that happens in this world, is reflected in the world above.

Tu B'Shvat: The Human Tree

BH

Happy Tu b’Shvat!

(Today’s dvar Torah is an excerpt from my Bat Mitzvah speech, which was about Tu b’Shvat, and how people have common ground (pun intended 😉  ) with the beautiful and purposeful trees Hashem has graced this world with.)

Approximately four months before the holiday of Tu B’Shvat the rainy season starts, in Eretz Yisroel, The Land of Israel.  The rains saturate the soil and nurture the trees so they will blossom and fruit.    Almond trees grow in abundance across Israel – in groves and throughout the country’s many hills and valleys.  Almost magically, the almond trees’ first blossoms appear each year in Israel, on Tu B’Shvat, marking the New Year for trees and the return of spring in the land of Israel.

In our synagogue, it is our custom to celebrate this new year for the trees, by  holding a Tu B’Shevat seder, or ceremonial meal.  This tradition can be traced back to the Middle Ages.  It includes a festive meal featuring fruits in honor of the  Shivat Haminim, the seven species, for which Eretz Yisroel, is praised: Figs, Dates, Pomegranates, Olives, Grapes, Wheat, and Barley.

In various places, the Torah compares a person to a tree:
– A person is like the tree of a field… (Devarim 20:19)
– For as the days of a tree shall be the days of my people. (Isaiah/Yeshayah 65:22)
– He will be like a tree planted near water… (Jeremiah/Yirmiyahu 17:8)

Why the comparison?

A tree needs these four basic elements in order to survive — soil, water, air, and sun. People require these same elements.

First, SOIL
The soil is home to the roots, it is through the soil that nutrients are absorbed.  The soil provides room for the roots to grow.  Like a tree, man absorbs his nourishment, such as values and morals, through his soil and roots.  A tree needs to be planted firmly in the earth.  This is true of a person as well, man is grounded by his roots, giving him the strength he needs to persevere.  Without roots, neither tree, nor man, can survive.  This is our FAITH.

The Talmud explains:

 “A person whose wisdom exceeds his good deeds,  is likened to a tree whose branches are numerous, but whose roots are few. The wind comes and uproots it and turns it upside down.”  Meaning, if a man, like a tree, is not anchored, grounded by strong roots, then when confronted with a strong wind, or difficult challenges, tree or man, can be uprooted, or turned upside down.

The Talmud continues:

“But a person whose good deeds exceed his wisdom is likened to a tree whose branches are few but whose roots are numerous. Even if all the winds of the world were to come and blow against it, they could not budge it from its place. (Pirkei Avot 3:22)”  Meaning, if man, like a tree, has solid roots, or has a deep connection to community and heritage, then when confronted even with the strongest of winds or the most difficult challenges, he will not be uprooted.

Next, WATER
Rain-water is absorbed into the ground, and through the roots, is carried throughout the trunk, branches and leaves, the body of the tree.  In (Devarim 32:2), the Torah is compared to water.  Moshe says: “May my teaching drop like the rain.”  Both rain and Torah descend from the heavens, providing relief for the parched.  Without water, a tree will whither and die; without Torah we, too, would whither.  Torah gives life to the human spirit.

A life based on Torah will blossom with wisdom and good deeds.

Rabbi Akiva once noticed that splashing water, near a stream, had hollowed out the nearby rocks — that drops of water had actually bored a hole, right through rock.  He said “if the gentle drops of water can pierce a rock, then the powerful words of Torah could penetrate his heart.”  He applied himself diligently to the study of Torah.  He used to say that a Jew without Torah is like a fish without water.

Next, AIR

A tree needs air to survive.  In Bereshit, the Book of Genesis, the Torah states that God breathed life into the form of Man; “He breathed into his nostrils the soul of life.”  The Hebrew word for breath — nesheema — is the same as the word for soul or spirit — neshama.   Kabbalah teaches that smell is the connection of the physical and spiritual…our connection to the soul.  The Talmud says: “Smell is that which the soul benefits from, and the body does not.  Of man’s five senses, smell (air) is the most spiritual.”  The Talmud (Sanhedrin 93a) says that “when Moshiach, the Messiah, comes, he will ‘smell and judge'”, meaning, he will use his spiritual sensitivity to decide the truth about difficult matters.

A scent can awaken one from a faint because it reaches the soul and brings renewed strength to the body.  An individual is refreshed upon smelling a pleasant fragrance. Coming home on Friday afternoon and smelling the delicious aromas of Shabbos, comforts the soul.  We are taught in the Talmud that on Shabbat we each possess an “additional soul” – a revelation from the deepest part of a person’s essence.  Come nightfall on Saturday, we make havdalah,  the separation ceremony — we say goodbye to Shabbat and this soul departs.  We rejuvenate ourselves by smelling besamim, spices — a pleasant fragrance.  This AIR, calms, pleases, refreshes and warms the soul, bringing renewed strength from a higher place.

Lastly, SUN

A tree needs sunlight to survive.  It is essential for the growth and health of the tree.  People also need sun, or WARMTH, to survive. This is the warmth of family, friendship and community.  All crucial Jewish observances and ceremonies are based on family and community — the celebration of birth, spiritual maturity, marriage, and even death.

This tight-knit connection provides the light and warmth which nurtures our growth.  We love, teach, and learn from each other. We share our simchas, joys, and our sadness.  And while these bonds may bring us difficult challenges, they also give us strength and some of our greatest happiness.

The Talmud tells a story about the sage named Choni HaM’agel. He wondered if it was possible for a man to dream continuously for seventy years. One day he was traveling on the road, and he saw a man planting a carob tree.  The sage, HaM’agel, asked him; “How long does it take for that tree to bear fruit?” The man replied, “Seventy years.” He then further asked him- “Are you sure that you will live another seventy years?” The man replied: “I found mature carob trees in the world; as my forefathers planted these for me, so I, too, plant these for my children.”

HaM’agel sat down to have a meal and sleep overcame him. As he slept a rocky form closed over him, hiding him from sight.  He continued to sleep for seventy years. When he awoke, he saw a man gathering the fruit of the carob tree and he asked him: “Are you the man who planted that tree?” The man responded: “I am his grandson.”  HaM’agel exclaimed: “It is for sure that I slept for seventy years.”

There is an important lesson to be learned from this story.  HaM’agel realizes this lesson when he wakes after 70 years, to see the grandchild of the planter, eating the fruits of his grandfather’s labor.  The man does not plant his seed for himself, but to benefit his children – his successors.  Man may toil in this life while reaping no direct advantage, only so his children will enjoy the rewards of his effort.

Have you planted a seed during your life?  If not, nothing remains when you are gone, and your life does not have lasting significance.

However, if we all plant a seed, by learning Torah, obeying the commandments of Hashem, by acting morally and compassionately, and by teaching our children to do the same, they, too, will grow strong roots, bodies and souls.  They, too, will plant seeds of their own.

Tu B’Shvat, the New Year for Trees, is a perfect time to focus on the lesson of the tree, and to remember that now is not just time for physical planting, but the time to sow some spiritual seeds, as well.

 All of us can produce fruits that benefit the world—namely, through our good deeds.

(These divrei Torah were posted on my original blog, on Feb. 4, 2017)