2020/5780
This week's Parashah, Parashat Re'eh, teaches a lot about Tzedakah and caring for the poor. The Pasuk says “Ki Yihiyeh Becha Evyon Me’Achad Achecha B’Achad Sh’Arecha BeArtzecha Asher Hashem Elokecha Notein Lecha Lo TeAmeitz Et Levavecha V’Lo Tikpotz Et Yadecha Mei’Achicha HaEvyon” “If, however, there is a needy person among you, one of your kinsmen in any of your settlements in the land that the Lord, your God is giving you, do not harden your heart and shut your hand against your needy kinsman” (Devarim 15:7). Rashi comments that the reason why the word “Sh’Arecha” is used is to teach us that our communities' necessities, such as Tzedakah, come first before we worry about other communities (Rashi ibid., DH “Shaarecha”). The Torah goes on to discuss the importance of giving Tzedakah and looking out for the poor.
Additionally, Rambam states, “Anyone who sees a poor person begging and averts his eyes from him and does not give him Tzedakah transgresses a negative mitzvah” (Hilchot Matanot Ani’im 7:2). It is also said that Rebbe Elimelech of Lizensk used to say: "Going around the four corners of the city to collect money for the poor atones for severe sins that deserve the four deaths issued by Beit Din.”
How could it be that this Mitzvah is seemed to be taken extra seriously? Also, why is there an Aveirah which considers withholding Tzedakah a very bad thing? Let the guy simply worry about himself; is it such a problem that he cared only about himself at this moment in time?
The answer is yes, that is a huge problem. Hashem is trying to teach us a lesson from this Pasuk to care not just for ourselves but rather to love the entire nation equally and with sincere love. That is the reason why this commandment is taken so seriously, to show the importance of being a part of the nation. We have to realize that we are a part of something greater than ourselves. Additionally, we should realize that everything that we have is because “Hashem Elokecha Notein Lecha”
Rav Chaim Shmulevits, in his commentary to Parashat Naso, teaches that when there is a group, Hashem judges the group as one. Even if you are a Tzadik in the group but the group is composed of Resha’im then you will be punished with the group, and vice versa. We can learn from here that we must care about the people who we are around and to make sure that we help the ones around us who need help. We can just keep to ourselves and only worry about ourselves but we must also worry about the Am, the nation. That is also why Rashi comments that the people in your community come first when Tzedakah is to be given, because we must worry about our Am that we are a part of and our community comes first.
We can also learn another lesson being taught to us through this Pasuk. The Torah is relaying what true Emunah in Hashem is. Often we do Mitzvot because of what our parents, Rebbeim, and friends will likely say as a result. That is not true Emunah. What our goal is to do is to realize that everything we do in life is all for the purpose of “Hashem Elokecha Notein Lecha” and to realize that everything from Hashem. With that realization, we may understand why it is so severe to disregard the Ani’im, the poor. Hashem gave us land, food, and crops. This is on condition that we look out for those that don't necessarily have it, because otherwise, Hashem can take it all away.