Luxury and Charity

Reb Tzvi once accompanied his father, the Baal Shem Tov, to the house of a wealthy man in Mezibuz. His father saw his son’s eyes widen at the costly silver ornaments and the expensive furnishings.

“My son,” he said, “I see that you envy this man and his costly things, while your father’s house is bare of such luxury. But believe me, my son, even if I possessed enough wealth to acquire these baubles, I would distribute it all to the poor.”