Reb
Israel Mayer, the Hafetz Hayim, lived in poverty before he became
renowned. When people became aware of
his poverty they offered money but Reb Israel refused.
One
day Reb Israel’s mother asked him, “My son, you see how poor we are. We do not have a slice of bread in the
house. When people want to help why do
you refuse?”
“Mother,
don’t you realize that people want to give money only because I refuse? As soon as I accept they will not want to
give.”
An
important lesson about tzedaka: One cannot give unless there is someone to
receive. Both are necessary and we must
never be dissuaded from doing the right thing.
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