Rabbi's Blog

This coming week we will bless the incoming new month of Elul, the month of introspection and preparation for the New Year. In a little over a month from now we will beckon God with the words U’Tshuva (Repentance), U’Tfillah (Prayer), U’Tzedakah (and the giving of Charity) Maavirin Es Roa HaGezeira (we can repel the evil decree) The first two, T’Shuvah and T’Fillah, are more ‘spiritual’; the third, giving Tzedakah, is physical. For most people giving Tzedakah is a greater challenge for the obvious reason: it costs us something while prayer and repentance are free. 

 

Rosh Chodesh Elul is the official time when the onslaught of charity requests kicks off, whether through e-mail, snail mail, or phone. I don’t want to exaggerate and say thousands or even hundreds of requests are made, but no question the requests are certainly in the tens. Perhaps all combined e mails, regular mail, phone solicitations and in-person requests exceed one hundred. Over the years we tend to delete the e-mails and just take the snail mail directly to the recycling bin. A few of the organizations that I know request receiving tzedakah before Rosh Hashana. I’m sure many think as I do and remark, “How many worthy organizations can I possibly afford to give tzdekah to? This has become a unique problem and sometimes an annoyance. Fulfilling this Mitzva properly, especially if a person has given already and is on a fixed income, is a serious challenge. 

 

A number of years ago one of my balei batim came to me with a problem. He was on a fixed income, gave his Maaser/tithe religiously and would be confronted with a knock on his door by a Tzdekah collector. Knowing that his children were observing the ‘guest at the door’, he didn’t really have any more money to give, but, on the other hand, he did not want to give the impression that he didn’t give charity, particularly since his children were watching. My advice at the time was to take a small portion of his charitable contributions and give small increments of that to collectors who come to his door, thereby making a point for his children to see he was, in fact, giving (even though in very small amounts) to each and every person who put out his hand. It is extremely vital for children to see their parents giving tzedakah, preferably in a discreet manner that only they and no one else actually witnesses. 

 

This week’s Parsha Re’eh mentions the mitzvah of tzedakah in a few different places. The impact of giving tzedakah is far greater on the giver than the receiver. A few years ago I read a tzedaka letter that I believe quoted Rabbi Paysach Krohn to the effect that if anyone donates to a certain charity there is a ‘havtacha’ - a guarantee - that the person will never need the help or the services of that particular tzedakah. For example, if a man donates to an organization for ‘kids at risk’ then his family will be protected from having a child at risk. If a person contributes to a Jewish rehabilitation center, then he and his family will not need their services. I wanted to quote Rabbi Krohn so I called him, but he did not remember that exact idea. Instead, he referenced a similar idea that is found in his Bris Milah book. On page 97 note 37 Rabbi Krohn explains the laws and customs of a Bris. “It is customary to delegate the honor of kvatter and kvatterin to a couple seeking to have a child. This custom is probably based upon the Midrash in Bamidbar Rabbah 14:2 which states that God rewards measure for measure those participating in particular Mitzvos. For example, those who give charity, though they have few possessions, and those circumcising [or participating in a bris] though they have no children of their own, God says, ‘It is My obligation to compensate them with money, children…’. 

 

The midrash in Bamidbar Rabbah 14:2 and Vayikra Rabbah 27:2 gives similar accounts which state that God must pay back individuals for extending themselves to observe certain mitzvos even though they are not obligated as of yet. This could mean that although a person does not have a certain need and yet contributes perhaps before needing those services, Hashem says you paid into it already and you will not need these services in the future. This is based upon the verse in Mishlei: “Mi Hikdimani VaAshaleimTachas Kal HaShamayim Li Hu Zeh”, “who does something before me and I will pay him”. The Medrash in Emor states: “Who made a fence for me even before I gave them a roof? Who did the Mitzva of Mezuza even before I gave them a house? Who purchased a Lulav even before I gave him money?” In all of these examples Hashem rewards the person with the item that he really needs now. 

 

This is summed up in the famous drush of Aser T’Aser, on giving ten percent Hashem guarantees you will get it back. The blessing of getting back stems from the description of a person who thinks he can’t afford to contribute Tzdakah but gives it anyway. Therefore, when faced with the myriad of envelopes and solicitations soon to be received during the month of Elul, we should take a different outlook this year. When it comes to giving Tzedakah, there is no set amount per person or organization. Therefore, receiving all these solicitations provides a great opportunity to give to many different institutions, yeshivos, kollelim, day schools, hospitals, orphanages, outreach centers, and so forth. In the merit of giving to all of the different worthy organizations, we are providing protection for ourselves and our families not to need these essential services. 

 

As we begin preparations for the New Year,we try to line up our defense of why Hashem should bless us with all good. I believe an effective and fool-proof approach is to make sure to give at least something to each of the different charities which are brought to our attention. It is not about how much we give; it is about giving to worthy causes to which we have no direct connection and to which we are not even morally obligated. God views these donations with favor and promises that we won’t need those services because we are giving for the pure sake of Tzdakah, not for our own personal interest or need. Let us take the opportunity to give Tzdakah to those solicitations as a merit for ourselves and our families in the future. 

 

Ah Gut Shabbos 

Rabbi AvrahamBogopulsky