Rabbi Josh Zweiback

February 23, 2007

Giving and Taking

            A Yiddish story teaches us about "Yankel the Cheapskate," a man who, as his name suggests, would not give tzedakah to anyone, for any reason. No matter how important the cause, no one could convince him to give. He simply wouldn't contribute. One day, Yankel was crossing the river in a small boat. A huge storm breaks out, and Yankel’s boat capsizes.

            It’s actually Yankel’s lucky day because at just that moment another boat approaches. A sailor on the other boat calls out to Yankel and says: "Give me your hand. Give me your hand."

            Yankel can barely hear him over the strong winds and the roaring waves. He hears only one word, over and over: "Give, Give..."

            Yankel can't help himself. He yells back: "No. I don't give. I don't give."

            The sailor, seeing Yankel about to go under the water, yells out: "Yankel, give me your hand! Give me your hand."

            Again Yankel screams: "Never. I don't give."

            Finally, in desperation, the sailor cries out: "Yankel, take my hand."

            Yankel says: "Take? Take? No problem!”

            This week’s Torah portion begins:

            “Speak to the people of Israel that they may take for Me an offering; from every man whose heart makes him willing you shall take My offering.” The traditional commentators of the Torah point out a strange feature of the verse: why does it say “take for Me”? Shouldn’t it say: “Speak to the people of Israel that they may GIVE for Me an offering”?

            So what’s with this taking? What’s the meaning hidden in the verse? What can this somewhat strange formula teach us about the verse and about life?

           Rabbi Yehoshua of Michaloviche teaches: “The one who gives tzedakah is really the one who receives. Tzedakah is not a gift to your fellow human-being as much as it is a gift to yourself…”

           Rabbi Yisrael of Rizin teaches: “That they may take for me an offering…” relates to a popular aphorism: ‘Fools give. Wise people take.’ To whom is this statement referring? To those who give tzedakah. A fool who gives tzedakah thinks that he is giving. But a wise person who gives tzedakah understands that he is taking—he is the one who is benefiting.”

            Powerful teachings. So Jewish they way they turn everything upside down. The wise person understands that in giving, he benefits—he is taking.

            In this room tonight, this beautiful Erev Shabbat, there is much wisdom. And in this room tonight there are those who have given much.

            In the quiet candlelight, please take a moment to yourself to think about giving and taking. Think about a time you gave—of yourself, of your wealth, of your time, of your heart. Think about it: how was your giving, taking? What did you get when you gave?

            Now take a moment to give and to take with the person next to you. If you don’t know that person, shake hands and say “shalom.” And then take a minute simply to share your memory. Keep it short and sweet. Take a moment to give and a moment to take.

         I’m not sure who gets more, the one who gives tzedakah or the one who takes tzedakah. I’m not sure if I agree with Rabbi Yisrael of Rizin—I’m not sure that the wise person is the one who understands that the giver gets the most. I’m not sure that this is a rationale for giving that I embrace. Maybe we should give tzedakah, our offerings, not because we get anything in return but simply because justice—tzedek—demands it. In fact, maybe the person who hates giving but still gives is the greatest tzadik because he is the one who is NOT motivated by personal interest. His only motivation to give is the welfare of the other.

            But on the other hand, I love this teaching, this notion that the opportunity to give is itself a gift! Why? Because we are motivated by personal interest! We do seek pleasure. Who doesn’t like a gift? And so to frame giving tzedakah as a gift, a present from the Holy One encourages us to do the right thing.

            And as another Jewish sage, Mayor Ed Koch, once said: “Why cares why someone does the right thing? The important thing is doing the right thing!”

            So whether we see giving tzedakah as a gift to the other or as a way of taking a gift for ourselves, the important thing is to give. Give early. Give often. Give until it hurts or until it feels so good. But give, give, give.

            It’s a terumah—an offering—that can save a drowning man.

            Shabbat Shalom.