The True Meaning of Charity: Giving with Dignity and Purpose

He stood at the doorway, thin and frail, his shoulders slumped, his eyes dull, and his clothes torn and worn. His appearance stirred compassion in the heart of anyone who still possessed a measure of mercy. He was standing at the home of the Rebbe, Rabbi Bunim of Peshischa.

Naturally, Rabbi Bunim could not bear to send him away with only a charitable donation, no matter how generous it might have been. Instead, he took the man to a clothing store and bought him an entirely new wardrobe from head to toe. From there they went to a shoe store, where he purchased a fine pair of shoes. Seeing the man's unkempt hair, the Rebbe did not overlook that either, and together they visited a barber.

When they returned, the members of the household scarcely recognized the beggar who had stood at their door only an hour earlier. He now looked like a completely different person — respectable, dignified, and inspiring.

The Rebbe then welcomed him into his home and served him a lavish meal. After the man had eaten to his heart's content, Rabbi Bunim took out his wallet and presented him with a very generous sum of money for charity. They parted warmly, as the grateful guest showered the Rebbe with endless blessings and thanks.

The Rebbe's disciples were puzzled.

"Why did our Rebbe go to such extraordinary lengths to honor this poor man? Why wasn't a generous donation enough?"

Rabbi Bunim replied: "Listen carefully, and you will learn an important lesson about charity and hospitality.

"When I first saw this poor man in such a miserable state, I was overwhelmed with compassion. My heart broke for him, and my immediate impulse was to give him a large sum of money out of pity. But then I realized that I would not be acting solely because God commanded me to give charity. I would be doing it to ease my own conscience, and to calm the emotional discomfort I felt at seeing his suffering. That is not the purest form of charity.

"So I first clothed him and restored his dignity, until his appearance no longer aroused overwhelming pity. Only then, once my emotions had settled, did I give him money because I knew he was poor and because the Creator commanded me to help him — not because my emotions demanded it, but because the Torah requires it."

Rabbi Bunim explained that this is the meaning of the verse in this week's Torah portion: "You shall surely give to him, and let your heart not be grieved when you give to him."

The Torah's double expression, "You shall surely give," teaches that sometimes a person must give twice. First, restore the person's dignity by providing clothing or whatever is needed so that he no longer appears degraded. Only afterward should one fulfill the mitzvah of charity itself.

The verse continues, "Let your heart not be grieved when you give to him." In other words, charity should not be motivated merely by the emotional pain we experience when witnessing another's suffering. Rather, it should be given because God has commanded us to support those in need.

Why Does God Give Some People Great Wealth?

We do not presume to understand God's ways. Yet one aspect of the world's financial reality raises an obvious question.

It is understandable that a poor person may lack even the basic necessities of life. Perhaps poverty is part of that individual's spiritual journey, refining the soul through hardship.

But why does God give some people far more wealth than they could ever possibly use? Why should someone possess enormous fortunes sitting in bank accounts or invested in towering buildings when they will never personally need or enjoy all of it?

The Ohr HaChaim offers a remarkable explanation.

The wealth that exceeds a rich person's actual needs does not truly belong to him. It belongs to the poor.

Every person is entitled to what is necessary for sustenance. God temporarily entrusts part of what should have gone to the poor into the hands of the wealthy so that they may distribute it through charity. Wealth is therefore a test, designed to help the rich develop generosity, compassion, and the habit of giving.

In this way, both people benefit. The poor person fulfills the purpose of his circumstances, while the wealthy person earns the tremendous merit of supporting others.

Wealth Is a Sacred Trust

If this is true, then a wealthy person has no reason to become proud of his riches.

The abundance in his possession is not entirely his own. Much of it belongs to countless needy people whose portion has been placed in his care. God has entrusted him with wealth precisely so that he can share it with others.

When he gives charity, he is not really giving away what belongs exclusively to him. He is returning funds that God designated for those in need.

This sheds new light on the Torah's promise: "Do not let your heart be grieved when you give to him, for because of this the Lord your God will bless you."

Do not give reluctantly, the Torah tells us, because this is the very reason God blessed you with wealth in the first place — to enable you to help others.

It is through generous giving that the blessing of wealth fulfills its true purpose.

Rabbi Yeshaya Wind serves as the Spiritual Director of the Hidabroot organization and is the head of the Ahavat Torah Kollel.