The Power of Selfless Charity

You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord. (Vayikra 19:18) 

The Power of Selfless Charity

I once heard the Klausenberger Rebbe explain why R’ Shaya’le of Kerestir had such an amazing ability to provide charity to so many yidden in need, and to help them find salvation from their troubles. 
 

The Rebbe related: Once, while the Kerestirer Rebbe was visiting R’ Chaim of Tzanz, the Rebbe asked him for a loan that the Rebbe would use for tzedakah (charity). R’ Shaya’le had sewn into his coat 300 bills for safekeeping and for an emergency. Without hesitation, he gave the Rebbe the entire sum. 
 

R’ Chaim asked if he had anything else to contribute. When R’ Shaya’le explained that those 300 bills was everything he had to his name, the Rebbe replied: “Dovid HaMelech wrote in Tehillim (146:3), “…in the son of man who has no salvation. ” You can read the pasuk (verse) differently. When it says, “…in the son of man who has no…”, it is referring to someone who has given everything that they own for charity, leaving nothing for themselves. Such a person has the power and ability to offer “salvation” to others.” 
 

From then on – explained the Klausenberger Rebbe – R’ Shaya’le Kerestirer was unnaturally blessed with enough money to always meet the needs of the thousands who came to him seeking financial help. The Kerestirer Rebbe’s prayers and blessings manifested themselves in miraculous ways, even after his passing.  
 

Measure for Measure 

Chazal taught (Sanhedrin 90a) that Hashem responds to our deeds “measure for measure”. 
 

The pasuk in Tehillim (121:5) describes Hashem as our shadow. The Seforim HaKedoshim (Kedushas Levi, Parshas Nasso, and others) often quote the Baal Shem Tov who explained that this pasuk is teaching us an important dynamic in the world. Your shadow mimics every movement you make. It mirrors your behavior. So too, Hashem “mirrors” your behavior and rewards your conduct “measure for measure”. 
 

When someone gives charity beyond the requirements of Jewish law, giving more than the required tithing, leaving little for himself, they are acting unnaturally selfless. They are giving tzedakah in a way that is beyond logic and reason, that surpasses the natural order of the world. Therefore, Hashem responds “measure for measure” and provides for that person in miraculous ways.  
 

Two for You, One for Me

R’ Aharon Pollack related a story he had heard from a man. This person was traveling to R’ Yissachor Dov of Belz with the Kedushas Yom Tov of Siget’s Rebbetzin after his passing. While meeting with the Belzer Rebbe, the Rebbetzin expressed her wish that her son, R’ Yoel, also become a Rav in Siget like his older brother, the Eitzei Chaim. She felt that this was the only way that he would be able to earn a livelihood to support himself and his family. 
 

The Rebbe offered another solution: he would arrange for her son, R’ Yoel, to become a Rebbe in the town of Satmar. The Rebbe corresponded with the head of the town’s Beis Din (religious court), R’ Yehuda Greenfeld, and arrangements were made. Every week, R’ Yehuda provided R’ Yoel with two gold coins. 
 

However, the new Satmar Rebbe always gave one coin to tzedakah and kept only one for himself. He was giving away half of his income to charity. And the remaining coin was barely enough to live even a simple life. When R’ Yehuda discovered what the Rav was doing, he started paying him three coins a week. However, the Rav did not change his lifestyle, but rather the amounts he gave to charity. Now, every week, he donated two coins for tzedakah and kept one for himself. 
 

R’ Yoel, the Satmar Rebbe Zt”l, became one of the most prolific Baalei Tzedakah in the Jewish world, miraculously distributing massive sums of charity throughout the Jewish communities. He merited to have the resources to help countless Jews in need and the stories of the blessings that he gave Jews and their subsequent salvations are well-known. 
 

Similarly, we have seen also many other tzadikim who gave unreasonable sums of their money to tzedakah, who went beyond logic and reason to financially help other Jews, and, as a result, they merited miraculous sums of money that was clearly provided by Hashem’s help, and their prayers manifested themselves in miraculous ways.  
 

Don’t Choose Too Much

The Seforim HaKedoshim address a very deep and critical component of tzedakah. People like to know what and who they are giving their charity to. They like to choose only “worthy” causes that are popular and prestigious. That is natural. However, tzedakah needs to go beyond what is comfortable and natural. 
 

When someone breaks that habit, when they break their nature by giving to a cause or a person without considering the level of their “worthiness”, then Hashem blesses him and provides for him even if he isn’t worthy. Again, “measure for measure.” 
 

There is a well-known story about R’ Zusha of Anipoli: Before he was recognized as a tzaddik, he was a simple teacher to a wealthy family. While in their employment, every need he had was met. 
 

However, the father of the family learned that R’ Zusha had a rebbe and teacher of his own: the Maggid of Mezrtich. After thinking about it, the father deduced that if this teacher, R’ Zusha, had the Maggid as a Rebbe, then the Maggid must be an even greater scholar and tzaddik. Therefore, his money was better spent providing for the needs of the Maggid! He stopped giving money to R’ Zusha and started supporting the Maggid. 
 

Shortly after, the man’s business investments started failing. He was losing massive sums of money. Concerned, he asked R’ Zusha why this would be happening to his family suddenly. 
 

He replied, “You were supporting me when you thought I wasn’t anything special or worthy of your assistance. The Heavens saw this and said, ‘If this man is willing to support someone unworthy, then, measure for measure, we will bestow upon him incredible success, even if he isn’t worthy.’ However, once you started investigating and determining who deserved your charity, the Heavens began looking into you more closely as well. They concluded that you were not worthy of these big blessings after all.”  
 

True Love is Rewarded

This can be the deeper meaning of our pasuk: “Love your neighbor…” and support him in every situation, and then “…as yourself, I the Lord” – based on how you are behaving towards your fellow Jew in need, Hashem will behave towards you. Measure for measure. 

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The Kalever Rebbe is the seventh Rebbe of the Kaalov Chasidic dynasty, begun by his ancestor who was born to his previously childless parents after receiving a blessing from the Baal Shem Tov zy”a, and later learned under the Maggid of Mezeritch zt”l. The Rebbe has been involved in outreach for more than 30 years and writes weekly emails on understanding current issues through the Torah. You can sign up at  www.kaalov.org.