Parasha Thoughts
By Rabbi Yitzchak Ariel
One of the Mitzvot mentioned in this weeks Parsha, Re’eh, is the commandment of Tzedaka, Charity. We all understand the importance of helping others in need and lending a helping hand when we are able to. Some of us are accustomed to thinking that the mitzvah of giving charity is just making a pledge or writing a check. Chazal teach us that tzedaka is given not only with money but with words as well. We are not just commanded to financially support the needy but also to give them emotional and mental support.
In the paragraph speaking about the mitzvah of tzedaka, The Torah says “for destitute people will not cease to exist within the land; therefore I command you saying, you shall surely open your hand to your brother your poor and your destitute in your land.” (15:11) The Vilna Goan points out that the Hebrew word ל×מרâ€, “saying”, can also be translated as “to say.” Read this way,The verse will translate to “therefore I command you to say [to the poor person] ‘you shall surely open your hand [one day as well] to your brother your poor and your destitute in your land’.”
The Torah is commanding us to give words of Chizuk, or encouragement, to the collector, telling him that he will one day also be on the giving end. Rabbi Yaakov Neiman in his book Darkei Musar quotes the Saba MiKelm as it saying that the whole purpose of giving tzedaka is to perfect ourselves. We are obligated to have empathy for the needy and to feel their pain and suffering. He actually goes so far as to say that one may not have fulfilled the mitzvah of tzedaka if they just write a check and don’t care to feel for the one who is in need.
Giving tzedaka is just as much for us as it is for the one who is receiving. Hashem should grant us all with the ability to help many of our brethren both financially and emotionally and we should use those opportunities to elevate our character traits and become better more empathetic people.