Subject: In Memory of Baruch Yitzchak Ben Yirmiyahu (Barry Pessin)
From: Heath Berkin <heath.berkin@gmail.com>
Date: 5/26/2017, 4:00 AM
To: Heath Berkin <heath.berkin@gmail.com>
BCC: menachem@alonsystems.com
The Mishna in Avos (5;13) says "one who gives charity and encourages others to give charity is a pious person".
Why is this person considered pious? Of course he is doing a great thing by giving charity but he really is obligated to do so, this doesn't deserve the title of pious. A pious person is someone who goes beyond the letter of the law, beyond what is required of him. If so, then why is this person called pious?
Although he is required to give charity himself he doesn't need to go around trying to convince others to give as well. His desire to truly help the cause and lend a hand to the needy goes beyond the letter of the law and therefore he is deserving of the title pious.
There is a story of R'Westheimer who was a huge scholar and rabbinical judge in Austria. In addition to this he was a very wealthy man and served as the Minister of Finance for the king. He was known to be extremely honest and upright, but there was a certain powerful advisor to the king who was very jealous of him. This advisor continuously attempted to convince the king that the Rav was a cheater and thief. He finally was successful in causing the king to doubt the integrity of the Rav. The king asked the advisor what should he do to test the Rav. He told the king to request from the Rav to bring an accounting of all of his assets.The Rav realized there was something deeper to the request but complied and the next day brought a highly detailed accounting to the king. When the king received this he turned to the advisor and showed him that indeed the Rav was honest. The advisor began to look over the audit and began to smile. He told the king to look at the report and he will see that the Rav did not include the beautiful house that was given to him by the king in his report. He said to the king this proves that he is hiding many more assets as well. The king was furious and called the Rav in to explain, asking him why he didn't include the house that was given to him. The Rav responded that the house given to him isn't his but is only a deposit from the king, if the king wants to take it back tomorrow he certainly can so he doesn't consider it an asset of his. The only assets he has, that he has accounted for are the various sums of charity that he has given. These assets no matter what the king or anyone else for that matter can't take away from him and those are considered his.