Today’s society promotes the idea of doing what we love. Focusing on this runs the risk of serving ourselves instead of serving Hashem. We’ll probably end up going down only one path, the right or the left. Our way is more about striving to love what we (sometimes must) do.

By Rabbi Mordechai Lipskier – The Beis Medrash

Reb Simcha Bunim of Peshischa stopped in the town of Sheps on his way home from a trip. He sought out a local chossid, Reb Zalman, who was both pious and poverty-stricken, handed him a large sum of money, and asked him to prepare the customary meal for himself and his chassidim. The sum far exceeded the cost of the meal.

Later, Reb Simcha handed Reb Zalman additional money to purchase a fur coat and new clothes and when he heard that Reb Zalman’s wife and children also wore rags, he added more money for their wardrobes too. After the meal, Reb Simcha gave Reb Zalman yet another handsome sum of money to buy drinks, and again there was money left over.

Later, Reb Simcha summoned Reb Zalman and handed him still another large sum of money, but the chossid objected. “How can I accept that?” he protested. “The Rebbe has already given me so much; I still have plenty left even after all the shopping!”

“In Parshas Re’eh, we read about giving tzedakah,” Reb Simcha Bunim explained. “You shall surely give him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him (15:10). Why would a Jew be grieved by giving tzedakah? The Torah is teaching us the true meaning of the mitzvah.

“I couldn’t tolerate seeing your poverty, nor could I bear knowing that you and your family have nothing but rags to wear. The money I gave you was not because there’s a mitzvah of tzedakah, it was to soothe my own conscience. My heart was grieved by your plight. But now that you have the basic necessities and my heart is settled, I can finally give you something to fulfill Hashem’s mitzvah rather than to satisfy my own need for comfort.”^[1]

Pity is about how I feel. Tzedakah is about how the other person feels.

A similar idea is found earlier in this sedra when we’re told that only animals that have split hooves and chew their cuds are kosher.

In terms of avodah, not only do animals need the sign of a split hoof, but a Yid does too.[2]

Some people are naturally inclined to the right. They’re kind, giving, forgiving, and accepting. Others are, by nature, stern, calculated, demanding, and judgmental. All these traits can be used to serve Hashem. But if we serve Hashem only in the way we’re comfortable with, if we have only one hoof, one mode of performing our avodah, then we’re lacking. As Yidden we have the ability, and therefore the responsibility, to go beyond our natural instincts. To go out of our comfort zone. To have split hooves which will sometimes lead us to the right and sometimes to the left.

Today’s society promotes the idea of doing what we love. Focusing on this runs the risk of serving ourselves instead of serving Hashem. We’ll probably end up going down only one path, the right or the left. Our way is more about striving to love what we (sometimes must) do. Sometimes it’ll be to the right and other times to the left.   

Gedolah hatzedakah shemikareves es hageulah. May all our efforts in tzedakah—material and spiritual—hasten the coming of Moshiach, NOW!

[1] I heard this story from my uncle, Reb Efrayim Majesky a”h. It’s printed in Ramasayim Tzofim to Tana D’vei Eliyahu, 27, and in Sipurei Chassidim, Zevin, on this week’s sedra.

[2] Likutei Sichos Vol 2 pg. 375

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