For Whose Benfit?

For Whose Benefit??

As presented a few weeks ago, your Table Talk is in summer L'Chaim mode.

The suggestion is this:

At some point during the Shabbat meal, pour everyone their favorite beverage for a l'chaim.

But ask them not to drink until after you finish the story. Make this a ritual every Friday night, and your family will look forward to it.




+ + + +

L’Chaim Story
Parshat Re'eh

“For Whose Benefit?”

Rabbi Shmelke of Nikolsburg was very active in the mitzvah of tzedakah. Not only did he give of his own meager salary, he also took the trouble to collect money from others, urging them to give according to their ability. In every way he could, he gathered a great deal of money for charity.

As Pesach is an expensive holiday, he made an extra effort at that time of year to collect.

He once came to a wealthy man’s house for this purpose. The man welcomed him with honor and offered drinks and cakes. Rabbi Shmelke asked for a large donation for tzedaka, but the man said that his financial situation was not as good as it had once been and he was losing money. Therefore, he said, he was unable to give a large amount and wished to donate a small one instead.

But the Rabbi refused to take this small amount from him. He got up to go!





+ + + +

For copyright reasons, the rest of the story may not be displayed here, but we'll be happy to send it along, just send an email.
 
+ + + +

Question for your table... What do you say - Does tzedakah benefit the giver more than the receiver?


Shabbat Shalom


PS - For guidelines on giving tzedakah, including prioritizing, click here.

PPS - Want to make your Table Talk rabbi happy? Like it, tweet it, or just forward it to someone who might enjoy it.

Excerpted and adapted with permission from Stories My Grandfather Told Me, Vol. 5, © 2001 ArtScroll/Mesorah Publications. All rights reserved. Get the book here.