בבא בתרא י

בבא בתרא י

״יִמְצָא חַיִּים״. בַּעֲלֵי עוֹשֶׁר – דִּכְתִיב: ״צְדָקָה״. בַּעֲלֵי אַגָּדָה – דִּכְתִיב: ״וְכָבוֹד״ – כְּתִיב הָכָא: ״וְכָבוֹד״, וּכְתִיב הָתָם: ״כָּבוֹד חֲכָמִים יִנְחָלוּ״.

“He who pursues charity and mercy, finds life” (Proverbs 21:21), and with regard to wisdom it is written: “He who finds Me, finds life” (Proverbs 8:35). Masters of wealth, as it is written: “He who pursues charity and mercy finds charity,” meaning he will be able to give charity. Masters of aggada, as it is written: “He who pursues charity and mercy, finds honor.” And how do we know that this refers to masters of aggada? It is written here “honor,” and it is written there: “The wise shall inherit honor” (Proverbs 3:35).

תַּנְיָא: הָיָה רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר, יֵשׁ לוֹ לְבַעַל הַדִּין לַהֲשִׁיבְךָ וְלוֹמַר לְךָ: אִם אֱלֹהֵיכֶם אוֹהֵב עֲנִיִּים הוּא, מִפְּנֵי מָה אֵינוֹ מְפַרְנְסָן? אֱמוֹר לוֹ: כְּדֵי שֶׁנִּיצּוֹל אָנוּ בָּהֶן מִדִּינָהּ שֶׁל גֵּיהִנָּם. וְזוֹ שְׁאֵלָה שָׁאַל טוֹרָנוּסְרוּפוּס הָרָשָׁע אֶת רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא: אִם אֱלֹהֵיכֶם אוֹהֵב עֲנִיִּים הוּא, מִפְּנֵי מָה אֵינוֹ מְפַרְנְסָם? אָמַר לוֹ: כְּדֵי שֶׁנִּיצּוֹל אָנוּ בָּהֶן מִדִּינָהּ שֶׁל גֵּיהִנָּם.

§ It is taught in a baraita: Rabbi Meir would say: An opponent may bring an argument against you and say to you: If your God loves the poor, for what reason does He not support them Himself? In such a case, say to him: He commands us to act as His agents in sustaining the poor, so that through them we will be credited with the performance of mitzvot and therefore be saved from the judgment of Gehenna. And this is the question that Turnus Rufus the wicked asked Rabbi Akiva: If your God loves the poor, for what reason does He not support them Himself? Rabbi Akiva said to him: He commands us to sustain the poor, so that through them and the charity we give them we will be saved from the judgment of Gehenna.

אָמַר לוֹ: [אַדְּרַבָּה], זוֹ שֶׁמְּחַיַּיבְתָּן לְגֵיהִנָּם! אֶמְשׁוֹל לְךָ מָשָׁל, לְמָה הַדָּבָר דּוֹמֶה? לְמֶלֶךְ בָּשָׂר וָדָם שֶׁכָּעַס עַל עַבְדּוֹ, וַחֲבָשׁוֹ בְּבֵית הָאֲסוּרִין, וְצִוָּה עָלָיו שֶׁלֹּא לְהַאֲכִילוֹ וְשֶׁלֹּא לְהַשְׁקוֹתוֹ. וְהָלַךְ אָדָם אֶחָד וְהֶאֱכִילוֹ וְהִשְׁקָהוּ. כְּשֶׁשָּׁמַע הַמֶּלֶךְ, לֹא כּוֹעֵס עָלָיו? וְאַתֶּם קְרוּיִן עֲבָדִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כִּי לִי בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל עֲבָדִים״!

Turnus Rufus said to Rabbi Akiva: On the contrary, it is this charity which condemns you, the Jewish people, to Gehenna because you give it. I will illustrate this to you with a parable. To what is this matter comparable? It is comparable to a king of flesh and blood who was angry with his slave and put him in prison and ordered that he should not be fed or given to drink. And one person went ahead and fed him and gave him to drink. If the king heard about this, would he not be angry with that person? And you, after all, are called slaves, as it is stated: “For the children of Israel are slaves to Me” (Leviticus 25:55). If God decreed that a certain person should be impoverished, one who gives him charity defies the will of God.

אָמַר לוֹ רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא, אֶמְשׁוֹל לְךָ מָשָׁל: לְמָה הַדָּבָר דּוֹמֶה? לְמֶלֶךְ בָּשָׂר וָדָם שֶׁכָּעַס עַל בְּנוֹ וַחֲבָשׁוֹ בְּבֵית הָאֲסוּרִין, וְצִוָּה עָלָיו שֶׁלֹּא לְהַאֲכִילוֹ וְשֶׁלֹּא לְהַשְׁקוֹתוֹ. וְהָלַךְ אָדָם אֶחָד וְהֶאֱכִילוֹ וְהִשְׁקָהוּ. כְּשֶׁשָּׁמַע הַמֶּלֶךְ, לֹא דּוֹרוֹן מְשַׁגֵּר לוֹ?! וַאֲנַן קְרוּיִן בָּנִים, דִּכְתִיב: ״בָּנִים אַתֶּם לַה׳ אֱלֹהֵיכֶם״!

Rabbi Akiva said to Turnus Rufus: I will illustrate the opposite to you with a different parable. To what is this matter comparable? It is comparable to a king of flesh and blood who was angry with his son and put him in prison and ordered that he should not be fed or given to drink. And one person went ahead and fed him and gave him to drink. If the king heard about this once his anger abated, would he not react by sending that person a gift? And we are called sons, as it is written: “You are sons of the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 14:1).

אָמַר לוֹ: אַתֶּם קְרוּיִם בָּנִים וּקְרוּיִן עֲבָדִים, בִּזְמַן שֶׁאַתֶּם עוֹשִׂין רְצוֹנוֹ שֶׁל מָקוֹם אַתֶּם קְרוּיִן בָּנִים, וּבִזְמַן שֶׁאֵין אַתֶּם עוֹשִׂין רְצוֹנוֹ שֶׁל מָקוֹם אַתֶּם קְרוּיִן עֲבָדִים; וְעַכְשָׁיו אֵין אַתֶּם עוֹשִׂים רְצוֹנוֹ שֶׁל מָקוֹם! אָמַר לוֹ, הֲרֵי הוּא אוֹמֵר: ״הֲלֹא פָרֹס לָרָעֵב לַחְמֶךָ וַעֲנִיִּים מְרוּדִים תָּבִיא בָיִת״; אֵימָתַי ״עֲנִיִּים מְרוּדִים תָּבִיא בָיִת״ – הָאִידָּנָא, וְקָאָמַר: ״הֲלֹא פָרֹס לָרָעֵב לַחְמֶךָ״.

Turnus Rufus said to him: You are called sons and you are called slaves. When you fulfill the will of the Omnipresent, you are called sons; when you do not fulfill the will of the Omnipresent, you are called slaves. And since now you do not fulfill the will of the Omnipresent, the parable that I offered is more apt. Rabbi Akiva said to him: The verse states: “Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you shall bring the poor that are cast out to your house?” (Isaiah 58:7). When do we bring the poor that are cast out into our houses? Now, when we have to billet the Roman soldiers in our homes; and about that very time, the verse states: “Is it not to share your bread with the hungry?”

דָּרֵשׁ רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בְּרַבִּי שָׁלוֹם: כְּשֵׁם שֶׁמְּזוֹנוֹתָיו שֶׁל אָדָם קְצוּבִין לוֹ מֵרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה, כָּךְ חֶסְרוֹנוֹתָיו שֶׁל אָדָם קְצוּבִין לוֹ מֵרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה. זָכָה – ״הֲלֹא פָרֹס לָרָעֵב לַחְמֶךָ״. לֹא זָכָה – ״וַעֲנִיִּים מְרוּדִים תָּבִיא בָיִת״.

Rabbi Yehuda, son of Rabbi Shalom taught: Just as a person’s entire livelihood is allocated to him from Rosh HaShana, when God issues His judgments for the entire year, so too are a person’s monetary losses allocated to him from Rosh HaShana. If one merits, the following verse is applied to him: “You shall share your bread with the hungry,” i.e., he will spend the sum allocated to him on gifts of charity; and if he does not merit, the following verse is applied to him: “You shall bring the poor that are cast out to your house, i.e., he will be compelled by the government to billet soldiers in his house and feed them against his will.

כִּי הָא דִּבְנֵי אֲחָתֵיהּ דְּרַבָּן יוֹחָנָן בֶּן זַכַּאי, חֲזָא לְהוּ בְּחֶילְמָא דְּבָעוּ לְמִיחְסַר שְׁבַע מְאָה דִּינָרֵי. עַשִּׂינְהוּ שְׁקַל מִינַּיְיהוּ לִצְדָקָה, פּוּשׁ גַּבַּיְיהוּ שִׁיבְסַר דִּינָרֵי. כִּי מְטָא מַעֲלֵי יוֹמָא דְכִיפּוּרֵי, שַׁדּוּר דְּבֵי קֵיסָר נַקְטִינְהוּ.

It is like this incident involving the nephews of Rabban Yoḥanan ben Zakkai, who once saw in a dream that his nephews were destined to lose seven hundred dinars over the course of the year. He encouraged them and took money from them for charity, and they were left with seventeen dinars out of the seven hundred. When Yom Kippur eve arrived, the government sent messengers who came and took the remaining seventeen dinars.

אֲמַר לְהוּ רַבָּן יוֹחָנָן בֶּן זַכַּאי: לָא תִּדְחֲלוּן, שִׁיבְסַר דִּינָרֵי גַּבַּיְיכוּ שַׁקְלִינְהוּ מִינַּיְיכוּ. אָמְרִי לֵיהּ: מְנָא יָדְעַתְּ? אֲמַר לְהוּ: חֶלְמָא חֲזַאי לְכוּ. אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ: וְאַמַּאי לָא אֲמַרְתְּ לַן [דְּנִיתְּבִינְהוּ]? אֲמַר לְהוּ: אָמֵינָא, כִּי הֵיכִי דְּתַעְבְּדוּ מִצְוָה לִשְׁמָהּ.

Rabban Yoḥanan ben Zakkai said to them: Do not fear that they will take even more from you; they took from you the seventeen dinars that were still with you. The nephews said to him: How did you know? Rabban Yoḥanan ben Zakkai said to them: I saw a dream about you, and he related his dream to them. They said to him: And why did you not tell us about the dream? Rabban Yoḥanan ben Zakkai said to them: I said, It is better that they perform a mitzva for its own sake. Had you known from the start that you were fated to lose that amount of money, the mitzva would not have been performed purely for its own sake.

רַב פָּפָּא הֲוָה סָלֵיק בְּדַרְגָּא, אִישְׁתְּמִיט כַּרְעֵיהּ בָּעֵי לְמִיפַּל. אֲמַר: הַשְׁתָּא (כֵּן) [כּוּ], אִיחַיַּיב מַאן דְּסָנֵי לַן כִּמְחַלְּלֵי שַׁבָּתוֹת וּכְעוֹבְדֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה. אֲמַר לֵיהּ חִיָּיא בַּר רַב מִדִּפְתִּי לְרַב פָּפָּא: שֶׁמָּא עָנִי בָּא לְיָדְךָ וְלֹא פִּרְנַסְתּוֹ.

The Gemara relates: Rav Pappa was once climbing up a ladder when his foot slipped and he almost fell. He said: Now, is the one who hates us, a euphemism for himself, liable like Shabbat desecrators and idol worshippers, who are subject to death by stoning, which is similar to death by falling, the punishment that Rav Pappa narrowly escaped? Ḥiyya bar Rav of Difti said to Rav Pappa: Perhaps a poor person once approached you and you did not sustain him, and therefore you were given a glimpse of the punishment that you actually deserve.

דְּתַנְיָא, רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן קׇרְחָה אוֹמֵר: כׇּל הַמַּעֲלִים עֵינָיו מִן הַצְּדָקָה, כְּאִילּוּ עוֹבֵד עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה – כְּתִיב הָכָא: ״הִשָּׁמֶר לְךָ פֶּן יִהְיֶה דָבָר עִם לְבָבְךָ בְּלִיַּעַל״, וּכְתִיב הָתָם: ״יָצְאוּ אֲנָשִׁים בְּנֵי בְלִיַּעַל״; מַה לְהַלָּן עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, אַף כָּאן עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה.

As it is taught in a baraita: Rabbi Yehoshua ben Korḥa says: Anyone who turns his eyes away from one seeking charity is considered as if he worships idols. From where is this derived? It is written here: “Beware that there be not a base thought in your heart…and your eye be evil against your poor brother, and you give him nothing” (Deuteronomy 15:9). And it is written there: “Certain base men have gone out…and have drawn away the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods” (Deuteronomy 13:14). Just as there, the base men sin with idolatry, so too here, the base thought is treated like idolatry.

תַּנְיָא, אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי: כֹּל צְדָקָה וָחָסֶד שֶׁיִּשְׂרָאֵל עוֹשִׂין בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, שָׁלוֹם גָּדוֹל וּפְרַקְלִיטִין גְּדוֹלִין בֵּין יִשְׂרָאֵל לַאֲבִיהֶן שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם – שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כֹּה אָמַר ה׳, אַל תָּבֹא בֵּית מַרְזֵחַ וְאַל תֵּלֵךְ לִסְפּוֹד וְאַל תָּנֹד לָהֶם, כִּי אָסַפְתִּי אֶת שְׁלוֹמִי מֵאֵת הָעָם הַזֶּה וְגוֹ׳ [אֶת] הַחֶסֶד וְאֶת הָרַחֲמִים״; ״חֶסֶד״ – זוֹ גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים, ״רַחֲמִים״ – זוֹ צְדָקָה.

It is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Yosei, said: All acts of charity and kindness that Jews perform in this world make great peace and are great intercessors between the Jewish people and their Father in Heaven, as it is stated: “So said the Lord, enter not into a house of mourning, neither go to lament nor bemoan them, for I have taken away My peace from this people, says the Lord, both kindness and mercy” (Jeremiah 16:5). “Kindness”; this is referring to acts of kindness. “Mercy”; this is referring to acts of charity. This indicates that when there is kindness and mercy, God is at peace with His people.

תַּנְיָא, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: גְּדוֹלָה צְדָקָה שֶׁמְּקָרֶבֶת אֶת הַגְּאוּלָּה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כֹּה אָמַר ה׳, שִׁמְרוּ מִשְׁפָּט וַעֲשׂוּ צְדָקָה, כִּי קְרוֹבָה יְשׁוּעָתִי לָבֹא וְצִדְקָתִי לְהִגָּלוֹת״. הוּא הָיָה אוֹמֵר, עֲשָׂרָה דְּבָרִים קָשִׁים נִבְרְאוּ בָּעוֹלָם: הַר קָשֶׁה – בַּרְזֶל מְחַתְּכוֹ, בַּרְזֶל קָשֶׁה – אוּר מְפַעְפְּעוֹ, אוּר קָשֶׁה – מַיִם מְכַבִּין אוֹתוֹ, מַיִם קָשִׁים – עָבִים סוֹבְלִים אוֹתָן, עָבִים קָשִׁים – רוּחַ מְפַזַּרְתָּן, רוּחַ קָשֶׁה – גּוּף סוֹבְלוֹ, גּוּף קָשֶׁה – פַּחַד שׁוֹבְרוֹ, פַּחַד קָשֶׁה – יַיִן מְפִיגוֹ, יַיִן קָשֶׁה – שֵׁינָה מְפַכַּחְתּוֹ; וּמִיתָה – קָשָׁה מִכּוּלָּם [וּצְדָקָה מַצֶּלֶת מִן הַמִּיתָה] – דִּכְתִיב: ״וּצְדָקָה תַּצִּיל מִמָּוֶת״.

It is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Yehuda says: Great is charity in that it advances the redemption, as it is stated: “So said the Lord, uphold justice and do charity, for My salvation is near to come, and My righteousness to be revealed” (Isaiah 56:1). He would say: Ten strong entities were created in the world, one stronger than the other. A mountain is strong, but iron, which is stronger, cleaves it. Iron is strong, but fire melts it. Fire is strong, but water extinguishes it. Water is strong, but clouds bear it. Clouds are strong, but wind disperses them. Wind is strong, but the human body withstands it. The human body is strong, but fear breaks it. Fear is strong, but wine dispels it. Wine is strong, but sleep drives it off. And death is stronger than them all, but charity saves a person from death, as it is written: “And charity delivers from death” (Proverbs 10:2, 11:4).

דָּרֵשׁ רַבִּי דּוֹסְתַּאי בְּרַבִּי יַנַּאי: בּוֹא וּרְאֵה, שֶׁלֹּא כְּמִדַּת הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא – מִדַּת בָּשָׂר וָדָם; מִדַּת בָּשָׂר וָדָם, אָדָם מֵבִיא דּוֹרוֹן גָּדוֹל לַמֶּלֶךְ – סָפֵק מְקַבְּלִין אוֹתוֹ הֵימֶנּוּ, סָפֵק אֵין מְקַבְּלִין אוֹתוֹ הֵימֶנּוּ; [וְאִם תִּמְצָא לוֹמַר מְקַבְּלִים אוֹתוֹ מִמֶּנּוּ –] סָפֵק רוֹאֶה פְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ, סָפֵק אֵינוֹ רוֹאֶה פְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ. וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֵינוֹ כֵּן, אָדָם נוֹתֵן פְּרוּטָה לֶעָנִי – זוֹכֶה וּמְקַבֵּל פְּנֵי שְׁכִינָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אֲנִי בְּצֶדֶק אֶחֱזֶה פָנֶיךָ, אֶשְׂבְּעָה בְהָקִיץ תְּמוּנָתֶךָ״.

Rabbi Dostai, son of Rabbi Yannai, taught: Come and see that the attribute of the Holy One, Blessed be He, is not like the attribute of flesh and blood. An illustration of the attribute of flesh and blood is that when a person brings a great gift to the king, it is uncertain whether the king will accept it from him or will not accept it from him. And if you say that the king will accept it from him, it is uncertain whether the person who brought the gift will eventually see the face of the king, or will not see the face of the king. But the Holy One, Blessed be He, does not act in this way. Even when a person gives a mere peruta to a poor person, he merits to receive the Divine Presence, as it is stated: “As for me, I will behold Your face through charity; I will be satisfied, when I awake, with Your likeness” (Psalms 17:15).

רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר יָהֵיב פְּרוּטָה לְעָנִי, וַהֲדַר מְצַלֵּי – אָמַר, דִּכְתִיב: ״אֲנִי בְּצֶדֶק אֶחֱזֶה פָנֶיךָ״. מַאי ״אֶשְׂבְּעָה בְהָקִיץ תְּמוּנָתֶךָ״? אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן בַּר יִצְחָק: אֵלּוּ תַּלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים שֶׁמְּנַדְּדִין שֵׁינָה מֵעֵינֵיהֶם בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַשְׂבִּיעָן מִזִּיו הַשְּׁכִינָה לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא.

It is related that Rabbi Elazar would first give a peruta to a poor person and only then would he pray. He said: As it is written in the same verse: “I will behold Your face through charity.” The Gemara asks: What is the meaning of that which is written: “I will be satisfied, when I awake, with your likeness”? Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak says: These are Torah scholars, who in pursuit of their studies banish sleep from their eyes in this world, and the Holy One, Blessed be He, satiates them with the radiance of the Divine Presence in the World-to-Come.

אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, מַאי דִּכְתִיב: ״מַלְוֵה ה׳ חוֹנֵן דַּל״? אִלְמָלֵא מִקְרָא כָּתוּב אִי אֶפְשָׁר לְאוֹמְרוֹ – כִּבְיָכוֹל ״עֶבֶד לֹוֶה לְאִישׁ מַלְוֶה״.

Rabbi Yoḥanan says: What is the meaning of that which is written: “He that graciously gives to the poor makes a loan to the Lord, and that which he has given, He will pay him back” (Proverbs 19:17)? How can it be that one is considered to have granted a loan to God? Were it not explicitly written in the verse, it would be impossible to say this, that somebody who is gracious to a poor person is seen as lending to God. It would be impertinent, since “the borrower is servant to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7), as it were.

אָמַר רַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אַבָּא: רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן רָמֵי, כְּתִיב: ״לֹא יוֹעִיל הוֹן בְּיוֹם עֶבְרָה, וּצְדָקָה תַּצִּיל מִמָּוֶת״, וּכְתִיב: ״לֹא יוֹעִילוּ אוֹצְרוֹת רֶשַׁע, וּצְדָקָה תַּצִּיל מִמָּוֶת״ – שְׁתֵּי צְדָקוֹת הַלָּלוּ לָמָּה? אַחַת שֶׁמַּצִּילָתוֹ מִמִּיתָה מְשׁוּנָּה, וְאַחַת שֶׁמַּצִּילָתוֹ מִדִּינָהּ שֶׁל גֵּיהִנָּם. וְאֵי זוֹ הִיא שֶׁמַּצִּילָתוֹ מִדִּינָהּ שֶׁל גֵּיהִנָּם? הַהוּא דִּכְתִיב בֵּיהּ ״עֶבְרָה״ – דִּכְתִיב: ״יוֹם עֶבְרָה הַיּוֹם הַהוּא״. וְאֵי זוֹ הִיא שֶׁמַּצִּילָתוֹ מִמִּיתָה מְשׁוּנָּה?

Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba says: Rabbi Yoḥanan raises a contradiction between two texts. In one place it is written: “Riches profit not on the day of wrath, but charity delivers from death” (Proverbs 11:4), and elsewhere it is written: “Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but charity delivers from death” (Proverbs 10:2). Why is it necessary to have these two verses about charity, that it delivers from death? Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba continues: One verse serves to teach that charity delivers from an unnatural death in this world, and one verse serves to teach that charity delivers from the judgment of Gehenna in the World-to-Come. And in which of the verses is that charity which delivers from the judgment of Gehenna mentioned? It is in that verse in which “wrath” is written, as with regard to the day of judgment it is written: “That day is a day of wrath” (Zephaniah 1:15). And which type of charity is that which delivers from an unnatural death?

נוֹתְנָהּ – וְאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ לְמִי נוֹתְנָהּ, נוֹטְלָהּ – וְאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ מִמִּי נוֹטְלָהּ. נוֹתְנָהּ וְאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ לְמִי נוֹתְנָהּ – לְאַפּוֹקֵי מִדְּמַר עוּקְבָא; נוֹטְלָהּ וְאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ מִמִּי נוֹטְלָהּ – לְאַפּוֹקֵי מִדְּרַבִּי אַבָּא. וְאֶלָּא הֵיכִי לֶיעְבֵּיד? לִיתֵּיב לְאַרְנָקִי שֶׁל צְדָקָה.

It is the type in which one gives the charity without knowing to whom he gave it, and the other one takes it without knowing from whom he took it. The Gemara explains: One gives it without knowing to whom he gave it, this serves to exclude the practice of Mar Ukva, who would personally give charity to poor people without their knowing he was the donor. The other one takes it without knowing from whom he took it; this serves to exclude the practice of Rabbi Abba, who would render his money ownerless, so that poor people would come and take it without his knowing whom he helped, although they would know from whom the money came. The Gemara asks: Rather, how then should one act to conceal his own identity and also remain ignorant of the identities of the recipients? The Gemara answers: The best method is to put the money into the charity purse.

מֵיתִיבִי: מָה יַעֲשֶׂה אָדָם וְיִהְיוּ לוֹ בָּנִים זְכָרִים? רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: יְפַזֵּר מְעוֹתָיו לַעֲנִיִּים. רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אוֹמֵר: יְשַׂמַּח אִשְׁתּוֹ לִדְבַר מִצְוָה. רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר בֶּן יַעֲקֹב אוֹמֵר: לֹא יִתֵּן אָדָם פְּרוּטָה לְאַרְנָקִי שֶׁל צְדָקָה, אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן מְמוּנֶּה עָלֶיהָ כְּרַבִּי חֲנַנְיָא בֶּן תְּרַדְיוֹן! כִּי קָא אָמְרִינַן – דִּמְמַנֵּי עֲלַהּ כְּרַבִּי חֲנַנְיָא בֶּן תְּרַדְיוֹן.

The Gemara raises an objection from what is taught in a baraita: What should a person do to have male offspring? Rabbi Eliezer says: He should distribute his money liberally among the poor. Rabbi Yehoshua says: He should gladden his wife before engaging in the mitzva of conjugal relations. Rabbi Eliezer ben Ya’akov says: A person should not donate a peruta to the charity purse unless a great and trusted individual like Rabbi Ḥananya ben Teradyon is appointed as supervisor over it. This seems to indicate that putting money into the charity box is not always preferred. The Gemara answers: When we say that putting money into the charity box is the preferred way to give charity, this is referring to when a man like Rabbi Ḥananya ben Teradyon is appointed as supervisor over it.

אָמַר רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ, אָמַר מֹשֶׁה לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, בַּמֶּה תָּרוּם קֶרֶן יִשְׂרָאֵל? אָמַר לוֹ: בְּ״כִי תִשָּׂא״.

The Gemara discusses other matters concerning charity. Rabbi Abbahu says: Moses said before the Holy One, Blessed be He: Master of the Universe, with what shall the horn of Israel be exalted? God said to him: With the passage of “When you raise,” i.e., Israel will be exalted by way of the donations and charity that they will give, as it is stated: “When you raise the heads of the children of Israel…then shall they give” (Exodus 30:12).

וְאָמַר רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ, שָׁאֲלוּ אֶת שְׁלֹמֹה בֶּן דָּוִד: עַד הֵיכָן כֹּחָהּ שֶׁל צְדָקָה? אָמַר לָהֶן, צְאוּ וּרְאוּ מָה פֵּירֵשׁ דָּוִד אַבָּא: ״פִּזַּר נָתַן לָאֶבְיוֹנִים – צִדְקָתוֹ עוֹמֶדֶת לָעַד, קַרְנוֹ תָּרוּם בְּכָבוֹד״. רַבִּי אַבָּא אָמַר מֵהָכָא: ״הוּא מְרוֹמִים יִשְׁכֹּן, מְצָדוֹת סְלָעִים מִשְׂגַּבּוֹ, לַחְמוֹ נִתָּן, מֵימָיו נֶאֱמָנִים״; מָה טַעַם ״מְרוֹמִים יִשְׁכֹּן, מְצָדוֹת סְלָעִים מִשְׂגַּבּוֹ״ – מִשּׁוּם דְּ״לַחְמוֹ נִתָּן״ וּ״מֵימָיו נֶאֱמָנִים״.

And Rabbi Abbahu says: They asked King Solomon, son of David: How far does the power of charity extend? King Solomon said to them: Go out and see what my father David explained: “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor, his righteousness endures forever, his horn shall be exalted with honor” (Psalms 112:9). Rabbi Abba said: It is derived from here how far the power of charity extends: “He shall dwell on high, his place of defense shall be the fortress of rocks; his bread shall be given, his water shall be sure” (Isaiah 33:16). What is the reason that “He shall dwell on high, his place of defense shall be the fortress of rocks”? Because “his bread shall be given” to the poor, and “his water shall be sure,” i.e., it shall be given faithfully and he can be trusted in the matter.

וְאָמַר רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ, שָׁאֲלוּ אֶת שְׁלֹמֹה: אֵיזֶהוּ בֶּן הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא? אָמַר לָהֶם: כֹּל שֶׁכְּנֶגֶד זְקֵנָיו כָּבוֹד. כִּי הָא דְּיוֹסֵף בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ חֲלַשׁ, אִינְּגִיד. אֲמַר לֵיהּ אֲבוּהּ: מַאי חָזֵית? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: עוֹלָם הָפוּךְ רָאִיתִי – עֶלְיוֹנִים לְמַטָּה, וְתַחְתּוֹנִים לְמַעְלָה. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: עוֹלָם בָּרוּר רָאִיתָ. וַאֲנַן, הֵיכִי חֲזֵיתִינַּן? [אֲמַר לֵיהּ:] כִּי הֵיכִי דַּחֲשִׁבִינַן הָכָא, חֲשִׁבִינַן הָתָם.

And Rabbi Abbahu says: They asked King Solomon: Who is one who is destined for the World-to-Come? King Solomon said to them: All those about whom it is stated: “And before His Elders will be His glory” (Isaiah 24:23), referring to those who are honored in this world due to their wisdom. This is like the incident involving Yosef, son of Rabbi Yehoshua, who became ill and fainted. When he returned to good health, his father said to him: What did you see when you were not conscious? Yosef said to him: I saw an inverted world. Those above, i.e., those who are considered important in this world, were below, insignificant, while those below, i.e., those who are insignificant in this world, were above. Rabbi Yehoshua said to him: You have seen a clear world. The world you have seen is the true world, one in which one’s spiritual and moral standing determines his true importance. Rabbi Yehoshua further asked him: And how did you see us, the Torah scholars, there? Yosef said to him: Just as we are important here, we are important there.

וְשָׁמַעְתִּי שֶׁהָיוּ אוֹמְרִים: אַשְׁרֵי מִי שֶׁבָּא לְכָאן – וְתַלְמוּדוֹ בְּיָדוֹ. וְשָׁמַעְתִּי שֶׁהָיוּ אוֹמְרִים: הֲרוּגֵי מַלְכוּת – אֵין כׇּל בְּרִיָּה יְכוֹלָה לַעֲמוֹד בִּמְחִיצָתָן. מַאן נִינְהוּ? אִילֵימָא רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא וַחֲבֵרָיו, מִשּׁוּם הֲרוּגֵי מַלְכוּת – וְתוּ לָא?! פְּשִׁיטָא, בְּלָאו הָכִי נָמֵי! אֶלָּא הֲרוּגֵי לוֹד.

Yosef added: And I heard that they were saying in that world: Happy is the one who arrives with his studies in hand. And I also heard that they were saying: Those executed by the government enjoy such exalted status that no one can stand in their section. The Gemara asks: Who are these martyrs to whom Yosef was referring? If we say that he was referring to Rabbi Akiva and his colleagues, who were killed by the Romans, this cannot be: Is their elevated status due only to the fact that they were martyred by the Roman government and nothing more? These men were exceptional in their piety and sanctity during their lives as well. Therefore it is obvious that even without their martyrdom they would be greater than other people. Rather, it is referring to those like the martyrs of Lod, who died for the sanctification of God’s name but were not Torah scholars.

תַּנְיָא, אָמַר לָהֶן רַבָּן יוֹחָנָן בֶּן זַכַּאי לְתַלְמִידָיו: בָּנַי, מַהוּ שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב: ״צְדָקָה תְרוֹמֵם גּוֹי, וְחֶסֶד לְאֻמִּים חַטָּאת״? נַעֲנָה רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר וְאָמַר: ״צְדָקָה תְּרוֹמֵם גּוֹי״ – אֵלּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, דִּכְתִיב: ״וּמִי כְּעַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל גּוֹי אֶחָד בָּאָרֶץ״; ״וָחָסֶד לְאֻמִּים חַטָּאת״ – כׇּל צְדָקָה וָחֶסֶד שֶׁאוּמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם עוֹשִׂין, חֵטְא הוּא לָהֶן; שֶׁאֵינָם עוֹשִׂין אֶלָּא לְהִתְגַּדֵּל בּוֹ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״דִּי לֶהֱוֹן מְהַקְרְבִין נִיחוֹחִין לֶאֱלָהּ שְׁמַיָּא, וּמְצַלַּיִן לְחַיֵּי מַלְכָּא וּבְנוֹהִי״.

It is taught in a baraita: Rabban Yoḥanan ben Zakkai said to his students: My sons, what is the meaning of that which the verse states: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but the kindness of the peoples is sin” (Proverbs 14:34)? Rabbi Eliezer answered and said: “Righteousness exalts a nation”; these are the people of Israel, as it is written: “And who is like your people Israel, one nation on the earth?” (I Chronicles 17:21). “But the kindness of the peoples is sin,” meaning that all the acts of charity and kindness that the nations of the world perform are counted as a sin for them, since they perform them only to elevate themselves in prestige, as it is stated: “That they may sacrifice offerings of pleasing aroma to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king and of his sons” (Ezra 6:10). Even though they donated offerings, they did so only for their own benefit.

וּדְעָבֵיד הָכִי, לָאו צְדָקָה גְּמוּרָה הִיא?! וְהָתַנְיָא, הָאוֹמֵר: ״סֶלַע זֶה לִצְדָקָה, בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁיִּחְיוּ בָּנַי״, וּ״בִשְׁבִיל שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא״ – הֲרֵי זֶה צַדִּיק גָּמוּר! לָא קַשְׁיָא; כָּאן בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, כָּאן בְּגוֹי.

The Gemara asks: And if one acts this way, is it not full-fledged charity? But isn’t it taught in a baraita that one who says: I am contributing this sela to charity so that my sons will live, or if he says: I am performing the mitzva so that I will merit a share in the World-to-Come, this person is a full-fledged righteous person, as far as that mitzva is concerned, even though he has his own welfare in mind? The Gemara answers: This is not difficult. Here, the statement that he is considered absolutely righteous is with regard to a Jew; while there, the statement that such benefaction is not credited as charity is with regard to a gentile.

נַעֲנָה רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וְאָמַר: ״צְדָקָה תְּרוֹמֵם גּוֹי״ – אֵלּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, דִּכְתִיב: ״וּמִי כְּעַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל גּוֹי אֶחָד״; ״וָחָסֶד לְאֻמִּים חַטָּאת״ – כׇּל צְדָקָה וָחֶסֶד שֶׁאוּמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם עוֹשִׂין, חֵטְא הוּא לָהֶן; שֶׁאֵין עוֹשִׂין אֶלָּא כְּדֵי שֶׁתִּמָּשֵׁךְ מַלְכוּתָן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״לָהֵן מַלְכָּא, מִלְכִּי יִשְׁפַּר עֲלָךְ, וַחֲטָיָךָ בְּצִדְקָה פְרֻק, וַעֲוָיָתָךְ בְּמִחַן עֲנָיִן, הֵן תֶּהֱוֵי אַרְכָא לִשְׁלֵוְתָךְ וְגוֹ׳״.

Rabbi Yehoshua answered Rabban Yoḥanan ben Zakkai’s challenge to interpret the verse and said: “Righteousness exalts a nation”; these are the people of Israel, as it is written: “And who is like your people Israel, one nation on the earth.” “But the kindness of the peoples is sin” means that all the acts of charity and kindness that the nations of the world perform is counted as a sin for them, since they perform them only to perpetuate their dominion, as it is stated by Daniel to Nebuchadnezzar: “Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you, and break off your sins by charity, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; that there may be an extension of your serenity” (Daniel 4:24). Since this is the argument that persuaded Nebuchadnezzar, it would appear that his actual motive was his own benefit.

נַעֲנָה רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל וְאָמַר: ״צְדָקָה תְּרוֹמֵם גּוֹי״ – אֵלּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, ״דִּכְתִיב: וּמִי כְּעַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל [וְגוֹ׳]״; ״וְחֶסֶד לְאֻמִּים חַטָּאת״ – כׇּל צְדָקָה וָחֶסֶד שֶׁגּוֹיִים עוֹשִׂין, חֵטְא הוּא לָהֶן; שֶׁאֵין עוֹשִׂין אֶלָּא לְהִתְיַהֵר בּוֹ, וְכׇל הַמִּתְיַהֵר נוֹפֵל בְּגֵיהִנָּם – שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״זֵד יָהִיר לֵץ שְׁמוֹ, עוֹשֶׂה בְּעֶבְרַת זָדוֹן״ – וְאֵין ״עֶבְרָה״ אֶלָּא גֵּיהִנָּם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״יוֹם עֶבְרָה הַיּוֹם הַהוּא״.

Rabban Gamliel answered and said: “Righteousness exalts a nation”; these are the people of Israel, as it is written: “And who is like your people Israel, one nation on the earth.” “But the kindness of the peoples is sin” means that all the acts of charity and kindness that the nations of the world perform is counted as a sin for them, since they perform them only in order to act haughtily through them, and whoever acts haughtily falls into Gehenna, as it is stated: “The proud and haughty one, scorner is his name, acts in arrogant wrath” (Proverbs 21:24). And wrath means nothing other than Gehenna, as it is stated: “That day is a day of wrath” (Zephaniah 1:15).

אָמַר רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל: עֲדַיִין אָנוּ צְרִיכִין לַמּוֹדָעִי – רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר הַמּוֹדָעִי אוֹמֵר: ״צְדָקָה תְּרוֹמֵם גּוֹי״ – אֵלּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, דִּכְתִיב: ״וּמִי כְּעַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל גּוֹי אֶחָד״; ״וָחֶסֶד לְאֻמִּים חַטָּאת״ – כׇּל צְדָקָה וָחֶסֶד שֶׁאוּמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם עוֹשִׂין, חֵטְא הוּא לָהֶן; שֶׁאֵין עוֹשִׂין אֶלָּא לְחָרֵף אוֹתָנוּ בּוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיָּבֹא וַיַּעַשׂ ה׳ כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֵּר, כִּי חֲטָאתֶם לַה׳ וְלֹא שְׁמַעְתֶּם בְּקוֹלוֹ, וְהָיָה לָכֶם הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה״.

Rabban Gamliel said: We still need to hear what the Moda’i has to say, as Rabbi Eliezer HaModa’i says: “Righteousness exalts a nation”; these are the people of Israel, as it is written: “And who is like your people Israel, one nation on the earth.” “But the kindness of the peoples is sin” means that all the acts of charity and kindness that the nations of the world perform is counted as a sin for them, since they perform them only to taunt us with them, as it is stated that the Babylonian officer Nebuzaradan said: “The Lord has brought it, and done according as He has said; because you have sinned against the Lord and have not obeyed His voice, therefore this matter is come upon you” (Jeremiah 40:3).

נַעֲנָה רַבִּי נְחוּנְיָא בֶּן הַקָּנָה וְאָמַר: ״צְדָקָה תְרוֹמֵם גּוֹי וָחֶסֶד״ – לְיִשְׂרָאֵל; וּ״לְאֻמִּים – חַטָּאת״. אָמַר לָהֶם רַבָּן יוֹחָנָן בֶּן זַכַּאי לְתַלְמִידָיו: נִרְאִין דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי נְחוּנְיָא בֶּן הַקָּנָה מִדְּבָרַי וּמִדִּבְרֵיכֶם, לְפִי שֶׁהוּא נוֹתֵן צְדָקָה וָחֶסֶד לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, וְלָאוּמּוֹת חַטָּאת. מִכְּלָל דְּהוּא נָמֵי אָמַר; מַאי הִיא? דְּתַנְיָא, אָמַר לָהֶם רַבָּן יוֹחָנָן בֶּן זַכַּאי: כְּשֵׁם שֶׁהַחַטָּאת מְכַפֶּרֶת עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל – כָּךְ צְדָקָה מְכַפֶּרֶת עַל אוּמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם.

Rabbi Neḥunya ben HaKana answered and said: “Righteousness exalts a nation and kindness” is referring to Israel; and in addition, “of the peoples is sin.” Rabban Yoḥanan ben Zakkai said to his students: The statement of Rabbi Neḥunya ben HaKana appears to be more precise than both my statement and your statements, because he assigns both righteousness and kindness to Israel, and sin to the peoples of the world. The Gemara asks: By inference, it appears that he, Rabban Yoḥanan ben Zakkai, also offered an interpretation of this verse. What is it? As it is taught in a baraita: Rabban Yoḥanan ben Zakkai said to them that the verse should be understood as follows: Just as a sin-offering atones for Israel, so charity atones for the nations of the world.

אִיפְרָא הוֹרְמִיז אִימֵּיהּ דְּשַׁבּוּר מַלְכָּא, שַׁדַּרָה אַרְבַּע מְאָה דִּינָרֵי לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּרַבִּי אַמֵּי, וְלָא קַבְּלִינְהוּ. שַׁדַּרְ[תִּ]ינְהוּ קַמֵּיהּ דְּרָבָא, וְקַבְּלִינְהוּ מִשּׁוּם שְׁלוֹם מַלְכוּת. שְׁמַע רַבִּי אַמֵּי, אִיקְּפַד, אֲמַר: לֵית לֵיהּ: ״בִּיבֹשׁ קְצִירָהּ תִּשָּׁבַרְנָה, נָשִׁים בָּאוֹת מְאִירוֹת אוֹתָהּ״?! וְרָבָא – מִשּׁוּם שְׁלוֹם מַלְכוּת.

It is related that Ifera Hurmiz, the mother of King Shapur, king of Persia, sent four hundred dinars to Rabbi Ami, but he did not accept them. She then sent them to Rava, and he accepted them for the sake of peace with the kingdom. Rabbi Ami heard what Rava had done and was angry. He said: Does Rava not accept the lesson of the verse: “When the boughs are withered, they shall be broken off; the women shall come and set them on fire” (Isaiah 27:11), meaning that when righteousness has ceased from a particular nation, it is time for its citizens to be punished, and therefore we should not help them perform any meritorious deeds, which would delay their punishment? The Gemara asks: And why did Rava accept the money? The Gemara answers: He did so for the sake of peace with the kingdom.

וְרַבִּי אַמֵּי נָמֵי, מִשּׁוּם שְׁלוֹם מַלְכוּת! דְּאִיבְּעִי לֵיהּ לְמִפְלְגִינְהוּ לַעֲנִיֵּי גוֹיִים. וְרָבָא נָמֵי – לַעֲנִיֵּי גוֹיִים יַהֲבִינְהוּ; וְרַבִּי אַמֵּי דְּאִיקְּפַד, הוּא

The Gemara asks: But did Rabbi Ami not also see the importance of accepting the money for the sake of peace with the kingdom? The Gemara answers: Rabbi Ami maintains that Rava should have distributed the money to the gentile poor rather than to the Jewish poor, as it is a disgrace to the Jews to require the kindness of the nations of the world in order to support their poor. The Gemara comments: In fact, Rava also gave the money to the gentile poor and not to the Jewish poor. And Rabbi Ami got angry because