Monday, November 16, 2009

Physical vs. Financial Generosity

Hi,

"Rabbi Elazar said: Acts of physical generosity are greater than acts of financial tzedakah.

"It is written, 'Plant for yourselves according to righteousness [tzedakah], harvest according to generosity.' One who plants might eat and might not eat; one who harvests will definitely eat."

(Talmud, Succah 49b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

2 comments:

  1. Rabbi Elazar's statement left me a bit down this morning. I'm finally able to donate to causes that I believe in and he says that comes in second place to physical tzedakah. I notice that my mailbox is constantly filled with requests for money; I have volunteered my time to a Day School library, the Bureau of Jewish Education, etc. and found that they really look on volunteers as second class citizens. Have things changed since Rabbi Elazar's time?

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  2. Hi Filala,

    Perhaps chesed means different things to different people?

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