Jingle, clink, jingle. 

When I was studying in Jerusalem, I always had coins in my bag.

One of my teachers, Rebbetzin Ruthie Karlinsky, had advised her students: 

“Keep a bag of small coins with you. That way, whenever somebody asks for Tzedakah, you will have something to give. You want to get into the habit of opening your hand.”

And slowly, with every coin I reached for, I developed that habit…

In this week’s Torah portion, we are commanded: 

If there shall ever be a destitute person among you…you shall not harden your heart or close your hand…Rather, you shall open your hand…For destitute people shall not cease to exist within the land…

Devarim 15: 7-11

There is an important lesson here, which deepens the meaning of sharing our wealth. 

As the great commentator, Rabbi Levi ben Gershon (Ralbag) explains, “Poverty is a constant phenomenon and today’s magnate can be tomorrow’s pauper. The charity one dispenses today may well be returned to him if his fortunes are reversed”.

In other words, there is always going to be a need for Tzedakah. Someone is always going to need help. Today, that someone may be a community member, but tomorrow (or in a month, a year or a decade), that someone may be you. 

Interestingly, the ancient Jewish silver coin was called the zuz (“move”) in Hebrew, because money has a way of moving; of changing hands. 

If we follow the commandment to open our hand, we can help care for everyone in our community.

As I walked the streets of Jerusalem, those coins jingling in my bag would whisper to me: You are privileged. You must share with those who need it.

And we never know when we might need help ourselves…

So stay thankful.

Stay humble.

And give with a full heart.

Shabbat Shalom,

Danielle