Do It for His Sake

"Rav Elozor Ish Bartosa says: Give Him what is His, because you and yours are His" (Avos 3:8). Rav Ovadia Yosef used to illustrate this Mishnah with a story about the Rymanover.

It is told that Rav Menachem Mendel was once sitting and learning with his talmidim when a pauper entered the bais medrash. Some people naturally awaken sympathy, and this man was an especially bedraggled and sad sight who tugged at the Tzaddik's heartstrings. The Rebbe sent his gabbai to fetch a gold dinar from the wallet in the next room and handed the surprised and grateful pauper one gold coin. It was a large donation, and the man thanked the Rymanover warmly and went on his way.

Afterward the Rebbe had second thoughts. He was troubled that he had given tzedakah out of mercy and sympathy rather than to fulfill the mitzvah for the sake of Hashem, as Rashi comments on Teruma, "Take teruma and give it lishmi, for the sake of My Name." He decided to send his attendant after the pauper.

The pauper was happily on his way, smiling at his good fortune, when he heard the attendant calling after him and running to catch his breath. He froze, and his eyes darkened. "Oh no, surely the Rebbe made a mistake in giving me a gold dinar and has sent his gabbai to exchange it for a silver one." With no choice, he turned back sadly and followed the gabbai to the Rebbe's court.

When they returned, the Rebbe had the gabbai bring the wallet, and to the pauper's total astonishment he did not take the dinar away. Instead he handed him a second gold coin. Taking courage from the Tzaddik's kindness, the pauper asked boldly, "Rebbe, I do not understand. If you wished to give me two gold coins, why not give them at once, rather than call me back? The gabbai gave me quite a fright, and I was very downcast until now."

The Tzaddik smiled and explained. "In Parshas Re'eh the verse says noson titein, 'you shall surely give.' Why the double expression? It teaches that if you give out of sympathy, give once more for the sake of the mitzvah. This is what I did. The verse also says, 'Your heart shall not be evil when you give to him.' I understand this to mean that the first time you give tzedakah you do so because of the feeling in your heart, that you feel bad for the poor man. Therefore give again, for the sake of the mitzvah of tzedakah."