Small tidbits and Sparks of wisdom

( https://thechesedfund.com/peoplewhocare/localarealargefamilysemergencyfinancialassistance)

א. בפרק הזה יבאר מצות החזקת מי שמטה ידו, שלא יתמוטט לגמרי חלילה.

והנה עד כה דברנו בענין סתם גמילות חסדים, שהאדם מיטיב לחברו עני או עשיר. ועתה נבאר עוד סוג שמצוי בענין זה, והוא — איש שמטה ידו, ובהלואה זו שילוהו יכול להחזיקו, שלא יפול ויצטרך לבריות.

וענין זה הוא גדול יותר מסתם גמילות חסדים, שבזה מקים עוד מה שאמר הכתוב (ויקרא כ”ה ל”ה):

«”וכי ימוך אחיך ומטה ידו עמך והחזקת בו גר ותושב וחי עמך”.»

ומה שאמר הכתוב “עמך”, יבאר במה שדרשו חז”ל (תמורה ט”ז.) על הפסוק (משלי כ”ב ב’):

«”עשיר ורש נפגשו עושה כולם ה’”:»

בשעה שבא עני אצל בעל הבית ואומר לו: פרנסני. אם מפרנסו מוטב, ואם לאו — “עושה כולם ה’”; מי שעשאו עשיר לזה, עושה אותו עני וכו’.

נמצא כשבא אצלך איש כזה, תצייר בנפשך, כאילו מטה ידך גם כן; כי אם לא תעזור לו, יוכל להתמוטט מצבו גם כן, חס ושלום. אבל אם תעזרנו ותחזיק ידו שלא יתמוטט, תהיו שניכם חיים וקיימים.

וזהו שכתב:

«”גר ותושב וחי עמך”.»

ואם יתן ה’ שיהיה מה על ידי זה, ויחיה בזה הוא ואנשי ביתו, יחשב ה’ להמלוה הזה, כאילו הוא החיה אותו וכל בני ביתו, וכמו שכתבנו למעלה (פרק ו’ אות א’) בשם המדרש (תנחומא משפטים סימן ט”ו).

The Message Before Rosh Hashanah

As Rosh Hashanah approaches, this teaching of the Ahavat Chesed becomes especially urgent.

We say in the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur tefillos:

«ותשובה ותפילה וצדקה מעבירין את רוע הגזרה
“Teshuvah, Tefillah, and Tzedakah remove the severity of the decree.”»

These are not three things to begin thinking about when Rosh Hashanah has already arrived. Teshuvah, Tefillah, and Tzedakah all require preparation beforehand.

We prepare our Teshuvah before standing in judgment. We prepare ourselves for Tefillah before standing before Hashem. And Tzedakah must also be given when it is needed — before the need has already passed.

Right now, before Yom Tov, families need money.

They need money for food, clothing, tuition, school expenses, and the many additional expenses that come together with the beginning of the school year and the Yamim Tovim.

Tzedakah given after Yom Tov cannot replace the Tzedakah that was needed before Yom Tov.

A family that needed money to make Yom Tov needed it before Yom Tov. A parent struggling with tuition or school expenses needs assistance when those bills are due. Helping afterward may certainly still be a mitzvah, but it does not repair the opportunity that existed when the person was asking and the need was immediate.

This is precisely the meaning of:

«והחזקת בו — “You shall strengthen him.”»

The Torah is telling us: catch him before he falls.

Do not wait until the family has collapsed financially. Do not wait until debts have accumulated beyond control. Do not wait until a person has lost his dignity and has no choice but to become completely dependent upon others.

If someone comes asking for help and one has the ability to help, turning away is not merely a missed opportunity for kindness. It can become a grave injustice.

The Ahavat Chesed gives a frightening warning: the One who made one person wealthy and another poor can reverse their circumstances. A person should never assume that because today he is the giver, his own position is guaranteed forever.

And this carries an especially powerful message as we approach Rosh Hashanah.

Soon we will stand before Hashem asking:

Give us life. Give us health. Give us parnassah. Give us blessing. Help our children. Help our families. Give us another good year.

Yet right now another Jew may be standing before us saying:

Help me. Help my family. Help me pay tuition. Help me buy what my children need for school. Help me make Yom Tov. Help me before I fall.

How can we expect Hashem to hear our requests while ignoring the requests placed directly before us when we have the ability to respond?

This is why Teshuvah, Tefillah, and Tzedakah must begin before Rosh Hashanah.

And particularly with Tzedakah, timing itself is part of the help.

Giving when the need is urgent can keep a person standing. Giving after the crisis has passed cannot go backward and provide the food, clothing, tuition, or Yom Tov expenses that were needed beforehand.

So before Rosh Hashanah, one should not merely think about how much he himself needs from Hashem in the coming year. He should also look around and ask who needs something from him right now.

«ותשובה ותפילה וצדקה מעבירין את רוע הגזרה»

Think about Teshuvah before Rosh Hashanah.
Prepare for Tefillah before Rosh Hashanah.
Give Tzedakah before Yom Tov — when people actually need it.

The time is now.