בבא בתרא ט

בבא בתרא ט

וְאַתְנִי עֲלַהּ״; אִיהוּ נָמֵי עֲבַד חַד כִּיסָא, וְאַתְנִי עֲלַהּ. רַב אָשֵׁי אָמַר: אֲנָא – אַתְנוֹיֵי נָמֵי לָא צְרִיכְנָא, דְּכׇל דְּקָא אָתֵי אַדַּעְתָּא דִּידִי אָתֵי, וּלְמַאן דְּבָעֵינָא יָהֵיבְנָא לֵיהּ.

and stipulate about it with the people of your city that the money collected will be given to whomever needs it, he too made only one purse and stipulated with the people of his city about it. Rav Ashi said: I do not even need to make a stipulation, as whoever comes to donate to this charity fund comes relying on my discretion and understanding that I will give the funds to whomever I want.

הָנְהוּ בֵּי תְרֵי טַבָּחֵי דְּעָבְדִי עִנְיָינָא בַּהֲדֵי הֲדָדֵי, דְּכֹל מַאן דְּעָבֵיד בְּיוֹמָא דְּחַבְרֵיהּ – נִקְרְעוּהּ לְמַשְׁכֵּיהּ. אֲזַל חַד מִנַּיְיהוּ עֲבַד בְּיוֹמָא דְּחַבְרֵיהּ, קְרַעוּ לְמַשְׁכֵּיהּ. אֲתוֹ לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּרָבָא, חַיְּיבִינְהוּ רָבָא לְשַׁלּוֹמֵי.

The Gemara relates: There were these two butchers who made an agreement with each other that whichever one of them worked on the day assigned to the other according to their mutually agreed-upon schedule would tear up the hide of the animal that he slaughtered that day. One of them went and worked on the other’s day, and the other butcher tore up the hide of the animal that he slaughtered. They came before Rava for judgment, and Rava obligated him to pay the butcher who slaughtered that animal.

אֵיתִיבֵיהּ רַב יֵימַר בַּר שֶׁלֶמְיָא לְרָבָא: ״וּלְהַסִּיעַ עַל קִיצָתָם״! לָא אַהְדַּר לֵיהּ רָבָא. אָמַר רַב פָּפָּא: שַׁפִּיר עֲבַד דְּלָא אַהְדַּר לֵיהּ מִידֵּי; הָנֵי מִילֵּי הֵיכָא דְּלֵיכָּא אָדָם חָשׁוּב, אֲבָל הֵיכָא דְּאִיכָּא אָדָם חָשׁוּב – לָאו כֹּל כְּמִינַּיְיהוּ דְּמַתְנוּ.

Rav Yeimar bar Shelamya raised an objection to Rava: Isn’t it stated among actions that the residents of a city may take: And to fine people for violating their specifications, i.e., those ordinances that the residents passed? Rava did not respond to him. Rav Pappa said: He did well that he did not respond to him, as this matter applies only where there is no important person in the city, in which case it is permitted for the residents of the city to draw up ordinances on their own. But where there is an important person, it is not in the residents’ power to make stipulations, i.e., regulations; rather, they are required to obtain the approval of the city’s leading authority to give force to their regulations.

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: אֵין מְחַשְּׁבִין בִּצְדָקָה עִם גַּבָּאֵי צְדָקָה, וְלֹא בְּהֶקְדֵּשׁ עִם הַגִּזְבָּרִין. וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין רְאָיָה לַדָּבָר, זֵכֶר לַדָּבָר – שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְלֹא יְחַשְּׁבוּ אֶת הָאֲנָשִׁים אֲשֶׁר יִתְּנוּ אֶת הַכֶּסֶף עַל יָדָם לָתֵת לְעֹשֵׂי הַמְּלָאכָה, כִּי בֶאֱמֻנָה הֵם עֹשִׂים״.

§ The Sages taught: One does not calculate sums with charity collectors concerning the money they collected for charity, to verify how much they received and how much they distributed, nor does one calculate sums with the Temple treasurers concerning the property consecrated to the Temple. And even though there is no explicit proof of the matter from the Bible, there is nevertheless an allusion to the matter, as it is stated: “And they did not reckon with the men into whose hand they delivered the money to pay out to the workmen; for they dealt in good faith” (II Kings 12:16).

אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ לָאָדָם גִּזְבָּר נֶאֱמָן בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ – יָצוּר וְיִמְנֶה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיָּצֻרוּ וַיִּמְנוּ.

Rabbi Elazar says: Even though a person has a trusted treasurer in his house like the aforementioned Temple treasurers, who were fully trusted, he should nevertheless tie up his money and count it, as it is stated: “And the king’s scribe and the High Priest came up, and they tied it in bags and counted the money…And they gave the money that was counted into the hands of them that did the work, that had the oversight of the House of the Lord” (II Kings 12:11–12).

אָמַר רַב הוּנָא: בּוֹדְקִין לִמְזוֹנוֹת, וְאֵין בּוֹדְקִין לִכְסוּת – אִי בָּעֵית אֵימָא קְרָא, וְאִי בָּעֵית אֵימָא סְבָרָא;

Rav Huna says: Charity collectors examine the level of poverty of one who asks for food, but they do not examine the level of poverty of one who asks for clothing. If a person comes before the charity collectors in tattered clothes, he is given clothing without any questions being asked. If you wish, say that this distinction is derived from a verse; if you wish, say instead that it is derived via logical reasoning.

אִי בָּעֵית אֵימָא סְבָרָא – הַאי קָא מִבַּזֵּי, וְהַאי לָא קָא מִבַּזֵּי. אִי בָּעֵית אֵימָא קְרָא – ״הֲלֹא פָרֹשׂ לָרָעֵב לַחְמֶךָ״; בְּשִׁין כְּתִיב – פְּרֹשׁ, וַהֲדַר הַב לֵיהּ. וְהָתָם כְּתִיב: ״כִּי תִרְאֶה עָרֹם וְכִסִּיתוֹ״; ״כִּי תִרְאֶה״ – לְאַלְתַּר.

If you wish, say that this distinction is derived via logical reasoning: This one who stands before us in rags is exposed to contempt, whereas that one who is hungry is not exposed to contempt. If you wish, say instead that this distinction is derived from a verse, as it is written: “Is it not to share [paros] your bread with the hungry?” (Isaiah 58:7). The word paros is written with a shin, alluding to the word parosh, meaning examine and investigate, and only then should you give him. And there in the same verse it is written with regard to clothing: “When you see the naked, that you cover him,” indicating that “when you see” him you should immediately cover him.

וְרַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר: בּוֹדְקִין לִכְסוּת, וְאֵין בּוֹדְקִין לִמְזוֹנוֹת – אִי בָּעֵית אֵימָא סְבָרָא, וְאִי בָּעֵית אֵימָא קְרָא;

And Rav Yehuda says just the opposite: Charity collectors examine the level of poverty of one who asks for clothing, but they do not examine the level of poverty of one who asks for food. He too adduces supports for his opinion. If you wish, say that this distinction is derived via logical reasoning; if you wish, say instead that it is derived from a verse.

אִי בָּעֵית אֵימָא סְבָרָא – הַאי קָמְצַעֲרָא לֵיהּ, וְהַאי לָא קָמְצַעֲרָא לֵיהּ. אִי בָּעֵית אֵימָא קְרָא – הָכָא כְּתִיב: ״הֲלֹא פָרֹס לָרָעֵב לַחְמֶךָ״ – פְּרוֹס לְאַלְתַּר, וּכְדִקְרֵינַן; וְהָתָם כְּתִיב: ״כִּי תִרְאֶה עָרֹם וְכִסִּיתוֹ״ – כְּשֶׁיֵּרָאֶה לְךָ. תַּנְיָא כְּווֹתֵיהּ דְּרַב יְהוּדָה: אָמַר ״כַּסּוּנִי״ – בּוֹדְקִין אַחֲרָיו. ״פַּרְנְסוּנִי״ – אֵין בּוֹדְקִין.

If you wish, say that this distinction is derived via logical reasoning: This one who is hungry suffers, whereas that one who is in tattered clothing does not suffer in the same way. And if you wish, say instead that this distinction is derived from a verse. Here, it is written: “Is it not to share [paros] your bread with the hungry?” meaning, share it immediately, just as the word is read. Since the word is read with a samekh, Rav Yehuda does not understand it as alluding to examining the recipient. And there, it is written: “When you see the naked, that you cover him,” meaning, when it will be clearly apparent to you, after you have investigated the matter and found that the supplicant is deserving, then you shall cover him. The Gemara comments: It is taught in a baraita in accordance with the opinion of Rav Yehuda: If a poor person said: Cover me with clothing, the charity collectors examine him; but if he said: Sustain me with food, they do not examine him.

תְּנַן הָתָם: אֵין פּוֹחֲתִין לְעָנִי הָעוֹבֵר מִמָּקוֹם לְמָקוֹם, מִכִּכָּר בְּפוּנְדְּיוֹן – מֵאַרְבַּע סְאִין בְּסֶלַע. לָן – נוֹתְנִין לוֹ פַּרְנָסַת לִינָה. מַאי ״פַּרְנָסַת לִינָה״? אָמַר רַב פָּפָּא: פּוּרְיָא וּבֵי סַדְיָא. שָׁבַת – נוֹתְנִין לוֹ מְזוֹן שָׁלֹשׁ סְעוּדוֹת. תָּנָא: אִם הָיָה מְחַזֵּיר עַל הַפְּתָחִים – אֵין נִזְקָקִין לוֹ.

We learned in a mishna there (Pe’a 8:7): One does not give a poor person who is traveling from place to place requesting charity less than a loaf worth a pundeyon, one forty-eighth of a sela, when the standard price of grain is four se’a for a sela. If the poor person sleeps in that place, one gives him provisions for lodging. The Gemara asks: What is meant by provisions for lodging? Rav Pappa said: A bed and a pillow [bei sadya]. And if he spends Shabbat in that place, one gives him food for three meals. A Sage taught in a baraita: If a poor person was going door to door asking for charity, one is not required to attend to him and give him money from the charity fund.

הָהוּא עַנְיָא דַּהֲוָה מְחַזֵּיר עַל הַפְּתָחִים, דַּאֲתָא לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּרַב פָּפָּא – לָא מִזְדְּקִיק לֵיהּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב סַמָּא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַב יֵיבָא לְרַב פָּפָּא: אִי מָר לָא מִזְדְּקִיק לֵיהּ, אִינָשׁ אַחֲרִינָא לָא מִזְדְּקִיק לֵיהּ! לֵימוּת לֵיהּ?! וְהָא תַּנְיָא: אִם הָיָה עָנִי הַמְחַזֵּיר עַל הַפְּתָחִים – אֵין נִזְקָקִין לוֹ! אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אֵין נִזְקָקִין לוֹ לְמַתָּנָה מְרוּבָּה, אֲבָל נִזְקָקִין לוֹ לְמַתָּנָה מוּעֶטֶת.

It is related that a certain poor person who was going door to door requesting charity came before Rav Pappa, the local charity collector, but Rav Pappa did not attend to him. Rav Sama, son of Rav Yeiva, said to Rav Pappa: If the Master does not attend to him, nobody else will attend to him either; should he be left to die of hunger? Rav Pappa said to him: But isn’t it taught in a baraita: If a poor person was going door to door asking for charity, one is not required to attend to him? Rav Sama said to him: That baraita means to say that one is not required to attend to him and give him a large gift, since he is already collecting money as he goes door to door, but one does attend to him and give him a small gift.

אָמַר רַב אַסִּי: לְעוֹלָם אַל יִמְנַע אָדָם עַצְמוֹ [מִלָּתֵת] שְׁלִישִׁית הַשֶּׁקֶל בְּשָׁנָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְהֶעֱמַדְנוּ עָלֵינוּ מִצְוֹת לָתֵת עָלֵינוּ שְׁלִישִׁית הַשֶּׁקֶל בַּשָּׁנָה לַעֲבֹדַת בֵּית אֱלֹהֵינוּ״. וְאָמַר רַב אַסִּי: שְׁקוּלָה צְדָקָה כְּנֶגֶד כׇּל הַמִּצְוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְהֶעֱמַדְנוּ עָלֵינוּ מִצְוֹת וְגוֹ׳״ – ״מִצְוָה״ אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן, אֶלָּא ״מִצְוֹת״.

Rav Asi says: A person should never prevent himself from giving at least one-third of a shekel a year in charity, as it is stated: “And we also established mitzvot upon ourselves, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the House of our God” (Nehemiah 10:33). And Rav Asi says: Charity is equivalent to all the other mitzvot combined, as it is stated in that verse: “We also established mitzvot upon ourselves.” A mitzva is not written here, but rather mitzvot, in the plural, thereby teaching that this mitzva is equivalent to all the other mitzvot.

(סִימָן: גָּדוֹל, מִקְדָּשׁ, מֹשֶׁה) אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: גָּדוֹל הַמְעַשֶּׂה יוֹתֵר מִן הָעוֹשֶׂה – שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְהָיָה מַעֲשֵׂה הַצְּדָקָה שָׁלוֹם, וַעֲבֹדַת הַצְּדָקָה הַשְׁקֵט וָבֶטַח עַד עוֹלָם״; זָכָה – ״הֲלֹא פָרֹשׂ לָרָעֵב לַחְמֶךָ״. לֹא זָכָה – ״וַעֲנִיִּים מְרוּדִים תָּבִיא בָיִת״.

The Gemara offers a mnemonic device for the following statements extolling the mitzva of charity: Greater; Temple; Moses. Rabbi Elazar says: One who causes others to perform [me’aseh] a meritorious act is greater than one who performs that act himself, as it is stated: “And the causing [ma’aseh] of righteousness shall be peace, and the work of righteousness, quietness, and assurance forever” (Isaiah 32:17). If one merits, the following verse is applied to him: “Is it not to share your bread with the hungry?” (Isaiah 58:7), i.e., he will wholeheartedly give charity to the poor. If he does not merit, the latter clause of that 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 sustain them against his will.

אֲמַר לְהוּ רָבָא לִבְנֵי מָחוֹזָא: בְּמָטוּתָא מָנַיְיכוּ, עוּשׂוּ בַּהֲדֵי הֲדָדֵי, כִּי הֵיכִי דְּלֶיהְוֵי לְכוּ שְׁלָמָא בְּמַלְכוּתָא. וְאָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: בִּזְמַן שֶׁבֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ קַיָּים, אָדָם שׁוֹקֵל שִׁקְלוֹ – וּמִתְכַּפֵּר לוֹ; עַכְשָׁיו שֶׁאֵין בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ קַיָּים, אִם עוֹשִׂין צְדָקָה – מוּטָב, וְאִם לָאו – בָּאִין אוּמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם וְנוֹטְלִין בִּזְרוֹעַ. וְאַף עַל פִּי כֵן נֶחְשָׁב לָהֶן לִצְדָקָה – שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְנֹגְשַׂיִךְ צְדָקָה״.

Rava said to the people of Meḥoza: I beg of you, strive with each other to perform acts of charity and righteousness, so that you will live in peace with the government, since if you do not act charitably toward each other, you will end up paying fines to the government. And Rabbi Elazar says: When the Temple is standing, a person contributes his shekel for the Temple service and achieves atonement for his sins. Now that the Temple no longer stands, if people act charitably, it will be well for them; but if not, the nations of the world will come and take their money by force. The Gemara comments: And even so, the money taken from them by force is credited to them as if they had freely given charity, as it is stated: “And I will make your oppressors charity” (Isaiah 60:17).

אָמַר רָבָא: הַאי מִילְּתָא אִישְׁתַּעִי לִי עוּלָּא

Rava said: This following matter was told to me by the infant

״מְשַׁגֵּשׁ אֹרְחָתַיהּ דְּאִימֵּיהּ״, מִשְּׁמֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר – מַאי דִּכְתִיב: ״וַיִּלְבַּשׁ צְדָקָה כַּשִּׁרְיֹן״? לוֹמַר לָךְ: מָה שִׁרְיוֹן זֶה – כׇּל קְלִיפָּה וּקְלִיפָּה מִצְטָרֶפֶת לְשִׁרְיוֹן גָּדוֹל, אַף צְדָקָה – כׇּל פְּרוּטָה וּפְרוּטָה מִצְטָרֶפֶת לְחֶשְׁבּוֹן גָּדוֹל. רַבִּי חֲנִינָא אָמַר מֵהָכָא: ״וּכְבֶגֶד עִדִּים כׇּל צִדְקֹתֵינוּ״; מָה בֶּגֶד זֶה – כׇּל נִימָא וְנִימָא מִצְטָרֶפֶת לְבֶגֶד גָּדוֹל, אַף צְדָקָה – כׇּל פְּרוּטָה וּפְרוּטָה מִצְטָרֶפֶת לְחֶשְׁבּוֹן גָּדוֹל.

who perverted the ways of his mother. He said in the name of Rabbi Elazar: What is the meaning of that which is written: “And He donned charity like a coat of mail” (Isaiah 59:17)? This verse serves to tell you that just as with regard to this coat of mail, each and every scale of which it is fashioned combines to form one large coat of mail, so too with regard to charity, each and every peruta that one gives combines to form a great sum. Rabbi Ḥanina says: The same idea is derived from here, as it is stated: “And all our charity is as a polluted garment” (Isaiah 64:5). Just as with regard to this garment, each and every thread in it combines to form one large garment, so too with regard to charity, each and every peruta combines to form a great sum.

אַמַּאי קָרוּ לֵיהּ ״עוּלָּא מְשַׁגֵּשׁ אֹרְחָתַיהּ דְּאִימֵּיהּ״? דִּבְעָא מִינֵּיהּ רַב אַחָדְבוּי בַּר אַמֵּי מֵרַב שֵׁשֶׁת: מִנַּיִן לִמְצוֹרָע בִּימֵי סְפוֹרוֹ, שֶׁמְטַמֵּא אָדָם? אָמַר לוֹ: הוֹאִיל וּמְטַמֵּא בְּגָדִים, מְטַמֵּא אָדָם.

The Gemara comments: Why was this Sage called the infant who perverted the ways of his mother? It was because of the following incident: Rav Aḥadvoi bar Ami asked Rav Sheshet: From where is it derived that a leper renders a person impure through contact during his days of counting, i.e., during the seven days that the leper must count from the start of his purification process, when he brings his birds, until he completes that process with the bringing of his sacrifices? Rav Sheshet said to him: Since he renders his garments impure, as it states that on the seventh day of his purification he must wash his clothes (see Leviticus 14:9), he also renders people impure.

אֲמַר לֵיהּ: דִּילְמָא טוּמְאָה בְּחִבּוּרִים שָׁאנֵי, דְּהָא הֵסִיט נְבֵילָה – דִּמְטַמֵּא בְּגָדִים, וְאֵינוֹ מְטַמֵּא אָדָם!

Rav Aḥadvoi said to him: Perhaps connected impurity is different, meaning perhaps he renders his garments impure because they are connected to the source of the impurity, but this does not mean that he renders impure a person whom he touches. A proof for this distinction may be brought from the fact that if one moves an animal carcass, an action that renders him impure even if there was no actual contact with the carcass, he renders the garments that he is wearing impure but does not render another person impure.

אֲמַר לֵיהּ: וְאֶלָּא שֶׁרֶץ דִּמְטַמֵּא אָדָם – מְנָלַן? לָאו מִשּׁוּם דִּמְטַמֵּא בְּגָדִים?! אֲמַר לֵיהּ: שֶׁרֶץ בְּהֶדְיָא כְּתִיב בֵּיהּ: ״אוֹ אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר יִגַּע בְּכׇל שֶׁרֶץ״. אֶלָּא שִׁכְבַת זֶרַע דִּמְטַמֵּא אָדָם – מְנָלַן? לָאו מִשּׁוּם דְּהוֹאִיל וּמְטַמֵּא בְּגָדִים, מְטַמֵּא אָדָם? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: שִׁכְבַת זֶרַע נָמֵי בְּהֶדְיָא כְּתִיב בֵּיהּ: ״אוֹ אִישׁ״ – לְרַבּוֹת אֶת הַנּוֹגֵעַ.

Rav Sheshet said to him: But from where do we derive that the carcass of a creeping animal renders a person impure? Is it not because we know that it renders his garments impure? Rav Aḥadvoi said to him: It is written explicitly with regard to the carcass of a creeping animal: “Or a man who touches any creeping animal, whereby he may be made unclean” (Leviticus 22:5). Rav Sheshet said to him: But from where do we derive that semen renders a person impure? Is it not because we say that since it renders his garments impure (see Leviticus 15:17) it also renders a person impure? Rav Aḥadvoi said to him: It is also written explicitly with regard to semen: “Or a man from whom semen is expelled” (Leviticus 22:4), and the Sages expound the superfluous word “or” as serving to include as impure one who touches semen.

אַהְדַּר לֵיהּ בִּבְדִיחוּתָא. חֲלַשׁ דַּעְתֵּיהּ דְּרַב שֵׁשֶׁת, אִישְׁתִּיק רַב אַחָדְבוּי בַּר אַמֵּי וְאִתְיַקַּר תַּלְמוּדֵיהּ. אָתְיָא אִימֵּיהּ וְקָא בָּכְיָא קַמֵּיהּ, צָוְוחָה צָוְוחָה וְלָא אַשְׁגַּח בָּהּ. אֲמַרָה לֵיהּ: חֲזִי לְהָנֵי חַדְיֵי דִּמְצֵית מִינַּיְיהוּ. בְּעָא רַחֲמֵי עֲלֵיהּ, וְאִיתַּסִּי.

The Gemara relates that with each of his answers Rav Aḥadvoi responded to Rav Sheshet in a mocking tone, intimating that he doubted Rav Sheshet’s grasp of Torah verses. Rav Sheshet was deeply offended, and as punishment, Rav Aḥadvoi bar Ami became mute and forgot his learning. Rav Aḥadvoi’s mother came and wept before Rav Sheshet. She cried and cried but he ignored her. As she had once been Rav Sheshet’s nursemaid, she said to him: Look at these breasts of mine from which you suckled. Upon hearing that, Rav Sheshet prayed for mercy for Rav Aḥadvoi, and he was healed. And since it was Rav Aḥadvoi whose behavior led to his mother’s acting in this manner, he was referred to as the infant who perverted his mother’s ways.

וְדַאֲתָאן עֲלַהּ; מְנָא לַן? כִּדְתַנְיָא, רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחַי אוֹמֵר: נֶאֱמַר כִּבּוּס בְּגָדִים בִּימֵי סְפוֹרוֹ, וְנֶאֱמַר כִּבּוּס בְּגָדִים בִּימֵי חִלּוּטוֹ, מָה לְהַלָּן מְטַמֵּא אָדָם – אַף כָּאן מְטַמֵּא אָדָם.

The Gemara comments: With regard to that which we arrived at, i.e., this particular subject, let us clarify the matter: From where do we derive that a leper renders impure a person with whom he comes into contact during his days of counting? As it is taught in a baraita: Rabbi Shimon bar Yoḥai says: Washing garments is stated with respect to his days of counting, and washing garments is stated with respect to his days of confirmed leprosy, after he has been declared conclusively impure by a priest. Just as there, when he is a confirmed leper he renders a person impure, as is explicitly stated in the Torah, so too here, during his days of counting he renders a person impure.

אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: גָּדוֹל הָעוֹשֶׂה צְדָקָה בַּסֵּתֶר, יוֹתֵר מִמֹּשֶׁה רַבֵּינוּ – דְּאִילּוּ בְּמֹשֶׁה רַבֵּינוּ כְּתִיב: ״כִּי יָגֹרְתִּי מִפְּנֵי הָאַף וְהַחֵמָה״, וְאִילּוּ בְּעוֹשֶׂה צְדָקָה כְּתִיב: ״מַתָּן בַּסֵּתֶר יִכְפֶּה אָף, [וְשֹׁחַד בַּחֵק חֵמָה עַזָּה]״. וּפְלִיגָא דְּרַבִּי יִצְחָק, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק: אַף כּוֹפֶה, חֵמָה אֵינוֹ כּוֹפֶה; שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְשֹׁחַד בַּחֵק חֵמָה עַזָּה״ – אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁשּׁוֹחַד בַּחֵיק – חֵמָה עַזָּה. אִיכָּא דְּאָמְרִי, אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק: כׇּל דַּיָּין שֶׁנּוֹטֵל שֹׁחַד – מֵבִיא חֵמָה עַזָּה לָעוֹלָם [שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְשֹׁחַד בַּחֵק וְגוֹ׳].

§ The Gemara resumes its discussion of the virtues of giving charity. Rabbi Elazar said: One who performs acts of charity in secret is greater than Moses, our teacher. Whereas with regard to Moses, our teacher, it is written: “For I was afraid of the anger and the wrath” (Deuteronomy 9:19), with regard to one who performs acts of charity it is written: “A gift in secret pacifies anger, and a present in the bosom fierce wrath” (Proverbs 21:14). The Gemara comments: And this statement disagrees with a statement of Rabbi Yitzḥak, as Rabbi Yitzḥak says: A secret gift pacifies anger, but it does not pacify wrath, as it is stated: “And a present in the bosom fierce wrath,” meaning that although a present is in the bosom, i.e., even if one gives charity in secret, nevertheless fierce wrath can still harm him. There are those who say that Rabbi Yitzḥak says as follows: Any judge who accepts a bribe brings fierce wrath upon the world, as it is stated: “And a present in the bosom fierce wrath.”

וְאָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק: כׇּל הַנּוֹתֵן פְּרוּטָה לְעָנִי – מִתְבָּרֵךְ בְּשֵׁשׁ בְּרָכוֹת, וְהַמְפַיְּיסוֹ בִּדְבָרִים – מִתְבָּרֵךְ בְּאַחַת עֶשְׂרֵה בְּרָכוֹת. הַנּוֹתֵן פְּרוּטָה לְעָנִי מִתְבָּרֵךְ בְּשֵׁשׁ בְּרָכוֹת – דִּכְתִיב: ״הֲלֹא פָרֹשׂ וְגוֹ׳, וַעֲנִיִּים מְרוּדִים תָּבִיא בָיִת (וְגוֹ׳) כִּי תִרְאֶה עָרֹם וְגוֹ׳״.

And Rabbi Yitzḥak says: Anyone who gives a peruta to a poor person receives six blessings, and whoever consoles him with words of comfort and encouragement receives eleven blessings. The Gemara explains: One who gives a peruta to a poor person receives six blessings, as it is written: “Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you shall bring the poor that are cast out to your house? When you see the naked, that you cover him” (Isaiah 58:7). And the next verses list six blessings: “Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your health shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rearguard. Then, shall you call, and the Lord shall answer; you shall cry, and He shall say: Here I am” (Isaiah 58:8–9).

וְהַמְפַיְּיסוֹ בִּדְבָרִים מִתְבָּרֵךְ בְּאַחַת עֶשְׂרֵה בְּרָכוֹת – שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְתָפֵק לָרָעֵב נַפְשֶׁךָ וְנֶפֶשׁ נַעֲנָה תַּשְׂבִּיעַ, וְזָרַח בַּחֹשֶׁךְ אוֹרֶךָ וַאֲפֵלָתְךָ כַּצׇּהֳרָיִם. וְנָחֲךָ ה׳ תָּמִיד, וְהִשְׂבִּיעַ בְּצַחְצָחוֹת נַפְשֶׁךָ וְגוֹ׳, וּבָנוּ מִמְּךָ חׇרְבוֹת עוֹלָם, מוֹסְדֵי דוֹר וָדוֹר תְּקוֹמֵם וְגוֹ׳״.

And whoever consoles a poor person with words of comfort and encouragement receives eleven blessings, as it is stated: “And if you draw out your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then shall your light shine in darkness, and your gloom shall be as the noonday. And the Lord shall guide you continually, and satisfy your thirst in drought… And they that shall be of you shall build the old waste places, you shall raise up the foundations of many generations” (Isaiah 58:10–12).

וְאָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק, מַאי דִּכְתִיב: ״רוֹדֵף צְדָקָה וָחָסֶד יִמְצָא חַיִּים צְדָקָה וְכָבוֹד״? מִשּׁוּם דְּרוֹדֵף צְדָקָה – יִמְצָא צְדָקָה?! אֶלָּא לוֹמַר לָךְ: כׇּל הָרוֹדֵף אַחַר צְדָקָה – הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַמְצִיא לוֹ מָעוֹת וְעוֹשֶׂה בָּהֶן צְדָקָה.

And Rabbi Yitzḥak says: What is the meaning of that which is written: “He who pursues charity and mercy finds life, charity, and honor” (Proverbs 21:21)? Is this to say that because one has pursued charity, he himself shall find charity? That is, shall the reward of one who has always given charity be that he will eventually become poor and other people will act charitably toward him? Rather, the verse serves to tell you that with regard to anyone who pursues charity, giving to the poor and leading others to do so, the Holy One, Blessed be He, furnishes him with money with which to perform his acts of charity.

רַב נַחְמָן בַּר יִצְחָק אָמַר: הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַמְצִיא לוֹ בְּנֵי אָדָם הַמְהוּגָּנִים לַעֲשׂוֹת לָהֶן צְדָקָה, כְּדֵי לְקַבֵּל עֲלֵיהֶם שְׂכָרוֹ. לְאַפּוֹקֵי מַאי? לְאַפּוֹקֵי מִדְּדָרֵשׁ רַבָּה – דְּדָרֵשׁ רַבָּה, מַאי דִּכְתִיב: ״וְיִהְיוּ מֻכְשָׁלִים לְפָנֶיךָ, בְּעֵת אַפְּךָ עֲשֵׂה בָּהֶם״? אָמַר יִרְמְיָה לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, [אֲפִילּוּ] בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁכּוֹפִין אֶת יִצְרָן וּמְבַקְּשִׁין לַעֲשׂוֹת צְדָקָה לְפָנֶיךָ, הַכְשִׁילֵם בִּבְנֵי אָדָם שֶׁאֵינָן מְהוּגָּנִין, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יְקַבְּלוּ עֲלֵיהֶן שָׂכָר.

Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak says: The Holy One, Blessed be He, sends him people who are deserving of charity, so that he will reap his just reward for helping them. The Gemara comments: What does this statement serve to exclude? It serves to exclude Rabba’s homiletical interpretation of a different verse, as Rabba taught: What is the meaning of that which is written: “Let them be made to stumble before You; deal thus with them in the time of Your anger” (Jeremiah 18:23)? The prophet Jeremiah said before the Holy One, Blessed be He: Master of the Universe, even when those wicked men who pursued me subdue their inclinations and seek to perform acts of charity before You, cause them to stumble upon dishonest people who are not deserving of charity, so that they will not receive reward for coming to their assistance.

רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי אָמַר: כׇּל הָרָגִיל לַעֲשׂוֹת צְדָקָה – זוֹכֶה, הָוְיִין לוֹ בָּנִים בַּעֲלֵי חׇכְמָה, בַּעֲלֵי עוֹשֶׁר, בַּעֲלֵי אַגָּדָה. בַּעֲלֵי חׇכְמָה – דִּכְתִיב:

Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says: Anyone who is accustomed to performing acts of charity merits blessing; he will have sons who are masters of wisdom, masters of wealth, and masters of aggada. The Gemara explains: Masters of wisdom, as it is written: