Subject: In Memory of Baruch Yitzchak ben Yirmiryahu (Barry Pessin)
From: Heath Berkin <heath.berkin@gmail.com>
Date: 6/2/2017, 5:19 AM
To: Heath Berkin <heath.berkin@gmail.com>
BCC: menachem@alonsystems.com
The Mishna in Avos (5;13) tells us about the fourth type of person when it comes to giving charity. "He doesn't give and doesn't want others to give either, he is wicked".
What kind of person is this that doesn't want to give and not only that he doesn't want others to give either? This person when he is asked for charity doesn't want to seem cheap so he comes up with many "good reasons" why this charity isn't really in need or this person really doesn't deserve charity. Maybe he says the person should go get a job or find some way to support himself other than asking for charity. All of these reasons, although they may in some cases be legitimate, many times are just reasons to cover up his desire not to give any charity. His reasoning though can have a negative impact on others that might otherwise have given to this person or cause. He has no problem voicing his reasons for not contributing charity and this will in turn convince others not to give as well.
The desire for wealth is one of the strongest desires of man. The evil inclination will therefore try to keep us from giving appropriately, overcoming our desires and fulfilling a great mitzvah. One of the strongest tools of the evil inclination is to convince us that by not giving charity we are actually fulfilling a mitzvah, it seeks to blind us from the truth so we continue stumbling. By building up a wall of lies and reasons not to give to the needy. May we all have the strength to clear vision and discern between the truth and the lies of our evil inclination.