Giving

Hashem tells Moshe, “…Every man shall give וְנָתְנוּ, Hashem an atonement for his soul when counting them so that there will not be a plague among them when counting them.”[1]

What does this posuk mean in simple English?

When relating that the Jews in the desert each gave a half-shekel to tzedakah. The Ba’al HaTurim points out that the word וְנָתְנוּ can be read forwards and backwards! This is to symbolize that when you give tzedakah it comes back to you and you do not lose by giving.

In fact, the Gemara[2] says, “Giving of ourselves is greater than giving charity.” The Gemara’s actual wording is, “Acts of kindness are greater than charity… for charity is performed only with one’s property, whereas acts of kindness are performed both in person and with his property.”

In conclusion, Ann Frank said, “NO ONE has ever become poor by giving.” Interestingly, the origins of her quote can be traced back to the Rambam: “No one has anyone become poor by giving to tzedakah…”[3]

Dedicated:

• In memory of: Miriam Liba bas R’ Aharon – a tzadeikes in our time; R’ Ayreh Moshe Eliyahu ben Shmuel, R’ Yisrael Meir ben R’ Ezriel, Avraham Yosef ben Meir Dovid, Zushe Yosef ben Shmuel Tzvi, Esther Perel bas R’ Shlomo, Miriam bas Zelig Shaul, Menachem ben Shimon, Menachem ben Zev, Dovid Tzvi ben Yosef Yochanan, Kayla Rus bas Bunim Tuvia, Dovid ben Uri HaLevi, Dovid Avraham ben Chiya Kehos, Rafael Chaim Yitzchak Yaakov ben Binyamin Yehudah, Yosef ben Moshe HaLevi, Tuvyah Shlomo ben Naftali Tzvi HaKohein, Altah Soshah Devorah bas Aryeh Leibush, Mashah Tzivyah bas R’ Shlomo Zalman, Shmuel Dovid HaLevi ben R’ Yosef Moshe HaLevi and all the other departed souls of our nation.

• For the complete recovery of Chayah Malka bas Bas-Sheva, Menachem ben Rivka, Rivka bas Esther Rochel and among the other sick ones of our nation.​​​​​​​