TRUE GIVING

By Rabbi Moshe Krieger, Yeshivas Bircas HaTorah (www.bircas.org)

In Parashas Terumah, Hashem instructed the Jewish people to build the Mishkan. This marked the beginning of a new era in history, in which Hashem’s presence was manifest in an intimate way. No nation had ever been granted such a privilege. Anyone who needed inspiration and spiritual renewal needed only to walk over to Hashem’s “House.”

Hashem did not take donations for this holy project from anyone. The verse states (Shemos 25:2), “From every person who has a generous heart you shall take My contribution.”

Rav Yechezkel Levenstein is bothered by this statement. Every Jew left Egypt with exceptional wealth (“Ninety donkeys laden with silver and gold,” according to Bechoros 5b). Moreover, they were provided with mann and water in the desert, so they had no expenses whatsoever. How much generosity of heart did they need? They would remain owners of colossal fortunes, even after donating for the needs of the Mishkan.

Rav Levenstein answers that simply having the money did not guarantee pure intentions for giving. Hashem required that the act of giving be pure, with no motive other than for Hashem’s sake. No other money would be acceptable.

We can all understand how hard it is to give with pure intentions. A person who makes a public donation at a dinner also wants to avoid embarrassment by being labeled a miser. Even expecting thanks is considered not perfectly pure. (Of course, showing gratefulness is a mitzvah, but we shouldn’t be giving so that others should be grateful to us.)

Moreover, even giving in order to get a mitzvah is not the true ideal. While it is true that we should give because Hashem commanded us to, we shouldn’t be focused on ourselves when we are giving. Jewish giving requires thinking about the other person and not ourselves.

Another surprising source of impure giving may apply even when we give with the earnest desire to help others, if we feel bad about parting with our hard-earned cash. People are profoundly attached to their money. The Gemara (Brachos 61b) states that some people would rather give up their lives than give up their money! If our giving is tainted with sadness, it is also not completely considered being generous of heart.

The Gemara (Bava Metzia 86b) states that many miracles occurred to the desert generation in the merit of Avraham Avinu. Because Avraham served butter and milk to the angels, the Jewish people received mann. Because Avraham stood over the angels as their waiter, the Jews had a pillar of cloud leading them. Because Avraham served water, the Jews had Miriam’s well. It is incredible to see how far reaching the effects of chessed (kindness) can be.

Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz asks, what made Avraham Avinu’s kindness so special? Jews do chessed like this all the time! He answers that the way Avraham Avinu did chessed was above and beyond the norm. Avraham served others with utter selflessness. This was why the merit of his acts of chessed extended to later generations, granting them miracles in their times of need. Even if we are far from the level of Avraham Avinu, we can learn how great the power of selfless acts can be.

Rav Aharon Kotler teaches that one who is generous of heart loves to give. If we don’t understand what a privilege it is to be a giver, the giving is incomplete, as there is still a part of ourselves holding back. The prophet says (Micha 6), “What does Hashem ask of you? Only to do justice and love chessed.” The Chofetz Chaim points out that Hashem doesn’t ask that we do chessed, but rather that we love chessed.

How can we train ourselves to love chessed, particularly if we have an inclination to be stingy? A famous mashgiach once recommended a certain process to his students (This process is also used by psychologists; it is known as “conditioning.”): “The Ramchal (Mesillas Yesharim 7) says that external actions arouse us internally, even if we start out feeling otherwise. I ask you all to put this to the test. If you are in a bad mood, force a smile onto your face. In a few minutes, you will notice that the smile is easier to maintain. Or, pretend to be energetic and run to give charity. Keep at it, and these external acts will become a part of you! Your nature will improve.”

May we be zocheh be “generous of heart”!

NEW! HOT OFF THE PRESS! Rabbi Krieger’s “Gedolei Yisroel on the Parashah & Yamim Tovim” is now available from the Yeshiva office, Jewish bookstores worldwide and can be ordered online at https://www.feldheim.com/gedolei-yisroel-on-Parashah-yamim-tovim-2.