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“Giving is Living”
“Giving is living,” the angel said.
“But must I keep giving again and again?”
My selfish and querulous answer ran.
“Ah, no,” said the angel, her eye pierced me through,
“Just give till the Lord stops giving to you.”
(Edwin Markham, poet)
I was deeply moved by the manner in which our congregation responded to the collection we took up for disaster relief during our Rosh Hashanah services. The generosity of the congregation resulted in more than $18,000 in cash and checks which we immediately forwarded to the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (UAHC) Disaster Relief Fund in New York. I spoke with the people who administer this fund, who assured me that 100% of the money collected is being forwarded in the name of our Reform movement to front-line disaster relief efforts, including the American Red Cross and the Firefighters Funds. I am proud that we were able to respond so immediately and remarkably. I know that many of us continue to give generously to ongoing causes. You may, if you wish, continue to send your contributions to the Temple, and know that we will continue to act as a conduit to make certain that all donations make their way to worthy relief efforts.
There were a few voices that protested the fact that we collected money during our services on Rosh Hashanah. True, Jewish tradition has long discouraged Jews from carrying money on the Sabbath and other holy days, a prohibition which I suspect few if any Reform Jews still follow. But there is also an ancient Jewish tradition which holds that almost any mitzvah may be set aside for the sake of “Pikuach Nefesh,” the saving of a life. There is no doubt in my mind that participating in the mitzvah of responding to the disaster relief efforts is in the spirit of this tradition. From your overwhelming response, I know the congregation agrees.
It is written:
“Rabbi Levi said, Whoever thinks to himself or herself before going to sleep at night:
“When I wake up tomorrow, I will do things for so-and-so.”
That person will ultimately share great joy with the Good People
In the Future, in the Next World, as the verse states,
“. . .For those who plan good, there is joy.” (Proverbs 12:20)
And it is written:
A wealthy man came and complained once to his rabbi, “I am tired of giving tzedakah. I give, and I give, and I give some more, and it seems there is no end to giving.” The rabbi replied, “Are you tired of eating? You eat, and you eat, and you eat some more. There seems to be no end of your eating.” “Nu,” answered the rich man, “How could a person live without eating? Food is essential sustenance for the body!” And the rabbi replied, “And how can a person live without doing tzedakah, for it is essential sustenance for the soul!”
James M. Bennett
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