Small tidbits and Sparks of wisdom

King Shlomo warned us against excessive striving for riches:

> “אַל־תִּיגַע לְהַעֲשִׁיר; מִבִּינָתְךָ חֲדָל.”
“Do not toil to become wealthy; cease from your own cleverness.”
— משלי כ״ג:ד׳ (Mishlei 23:4)

And he described its fleeting nature:

> “הֲתָעִיף עֵינֶיךָ בּוֹ וְאֵינֶנּוּ.”
“Before you even set your eyes upon it — it is gone.”
— משלי כ״ג:ה׳ (Mishlei 23:5)

David HaMelech guided us toward balance and sufficiency:

> “כִּי תֹאכַל יְגִיעַ כַּפֶּיךָ, אַשְׁרֶיךָ וְטוֹב לָךְ.”
“You shall eat the labor of your hands; you will be happy and it will be good for you.”
— תהילים קכ״ח:ב׳ (Tehillim 128:2)

The wise and righteous asked not for extremes, but for dignity:

> “רֵאשׁ וָעֹשֶׁר אַל־תִּתֶּן לִי; הַטְרִיפֵנִי לֶחֶם חֻקִּי.”
“Give me neither poverty nor wealth; provide me my daily portion.”
— משלי ל׳:ח׳–ט׳ (Mishlei 30:8–9)

Yaakov Avinu requested only the basics needed:

> “אִם־יִהְיֶה אֱלֹהִים עִמָּדִי… וְנָתַן לִי לֶחֶם לֶאֱכֹל וּבֶגֶד לִלְבֹּשׁ.”
“If God will be with me… and give me bread to eat and clothing to wear.”
— בראשית כ״ח:כ׳ (Bereishis 28:20)

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The Body Is Temporary — Obligation Is Eternal

Consider how much effort is poured into the body — a temporary vessel. It is never fully satisfied: too much food harms it, too little weakens it; too much clothing irritates it, too little leaves it suffering. And despite one’s effort, control over health and life is never truly his — it remains in the hands of the Creator.

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Wealth Is a Deposit — Not a Trophy

Wealth is not an achievement to display nor a monument for after death. It is a deposit entrusted by Heaven. The portion intended for the poor — the widows, the orphans, families in struggle — is not for deferral.

צדקה שנדחית — היא צדקה שנשללה.
Tzedakah delayed is tzedakah denied.

A hungry child cannot eat from a future will. A struggling family cannot survive on the promise of generosity later. When comfort sits in your home and need sits at your door — silence becomes theft.

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Necessity vs. Indulgence

Do not fool yourself into thinking that luxury becomes justified because it was acquired cheaply or with reward points. A want remains a want, even at a discount.

Modest relaxation is allowed when needed, but building life around comforts while ignoring obligation is a distortion. What exceeds genuine need belongs to the needy — not to habit, boredom, or convenience.

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Your Obligation Comes From Torah — Not Government

Some imagine that if the IRS does not demand their resources, then they owe nothing. But obligation to support the poor of Israel comes from Torah, not the state.

Jewish poor need help now:
daily food, tuition, health care, dignity, and stability.

Europe proved a hard lesson: many accumulated gold, art, and treasure as “investment.” In the end, governments seized everything — and nothing followed them.

To support the living — this is real legacy.

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Wealth Comes From Heaven — Not Genius Alone

Never forget:

> “וְזָכַרְתָּ אֶת־יְ-הוָה אֱלֹקֶיךָ כִּי הוּא הַנֹּתֵן לְךָ כֹּחַ לַעֲשׂוֹת חָיִל.”
“And you shall remember Hashem your God, for it is He who gives you the strength to achieve wealth.”
— דברים ח׳:י״ח (Devarim 8:18)

Success is not solely intellect, strategy, or ambition. Breath, time, health, timing — these are not man-made. Wealth is a Heaven-given test and trust.

When used selfishly, it decays a soul; when used as intended — with humility, urgency, and compassion — it becomes blessing in this world and merit in the next.

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