Many great rabbis were descendants of other great rabbis. One day Mordechai HaCohen was asked to talk about his grandfather, Rabbi Shalom, about whom no one remembered anything. He said:
“Truly, he was Lamed Vavnik, the hidden saint. During the day, he earned his living as a goldsmith, while remaining focused on the mysteries of the Torah. And at night he got out of bed to study Kabbalah. And that’s not all: my grandfather, as was customary among pious people, gave a tenth of his earnings to the poor.
“With all due respect, Rebbe,” said the interlocutor, “I must note that there is nothing unusual in this.” Many of us meditate on Torah during the day and study Kabbalah at night. And every Jew is obliged to give a tenth of his earnings to the poor.
“But that’s not all,” the rabbi smiled. “My grandfather gave for tzedakah (donation) not only ten percent of his income, but also ten percent of the amount of losses.
“I’m not sure I understand you,” said the interlocutor.
— One day, while refining gold, he made a mistake in technology and lost a lot of money. He calculated a tenth of this loss, then took the corresponding amount from his savings and distributed it to the poor.
- But according to the law, it is required to give only from income, because by giving from losses, we only aggravate our situation.
“That’s why I say that my grandfather was a tzaddik (righteous man). He believed that we should thank God for everything that comes to us, both good and bad. And he also believed that the poor should not suffer because of his mistakes. Therefore, he thanked God for both gains and losses, giving ten percent of each to the poor.
Commentary by Rami Shapiro Generosity is a very important component of spiritual life, for it is a reflection in our consciousness of the interconnection of all living beings. Judaic law sets the minimum that one must give to the poor: ten percent of one's income. But a Hasid who learns compassion from God himself does more than the letter of the law dictates. So Rebbe Shalom gave ten percent of his losses to the poor.
You may not have risen to that level of holiness, but your connection to all things is no weaker than that of Rebbe Shalom. The question is: how generous are you? Do you meet at least the minimum requirements of tzedakah, or are you inclined to give less and receive more? The next time you wonder how you are doing on your spiritual path, look not only at the holy books on your shelf, but also at your checkbook.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru