The Secret of Giving - Montly Gedolim Story

Kislev is the month of Chanukah. The month of the Festival of Lights. Its the time that, together, as families, communities and as a nation, we give over the message of the Menorah: that just as the flame burns here, right now, for the outside world to see, so too, we, the Holy Jewish Nation, G-ds Chosen People, are here, with a burning desire, to serve our creator, to bring peace to the world, and to spread the glory of G-d worldwide.

This sweet and simple story about giving is perfect for this month. Once again, taken from Rabbi Yechiel Spero's "The Eternal Wisdom of Pirkei Avos" book, it features a elegant lesson from the Lubavitcher Rebbe, The Baal HaTanya, Rav Shneur Zalman of Liadi.

I hope I can give over its message well,

All the Best,

Yitzy Schweitzer

The Secret of Giving - Montly Gedolim Story

The Baal HaTanya one went fundraising to redeem a family who had been taken captive for not paying their rent to the poritz (landowner). It was well known that in a nearby village, lived a wealthy man who had the means for the Holy Tzaddik to easily get the full sum.

But there was only just one problem.

The man was a notorious miser who never shared his wealth with anyone, no matter how desperate and legitimate the cause was. People came to his door and were given nothing more than a rusty copper coin, which they threw back at him, quite promptly. The townspeople were none to happy with this mans stinginess, and they very quickly knew that it was best to not solicit from him.

But when The Baal HaTanya came to the town, he informed his two gabba'im that they were going to head to the miser house. He warned them not to utter a word, regardless of the outcome.

The trio walked down the long pathway leading to the miser home and knocked at his door. Answering, the miser welcomed in his guests, listened to their story, and empathized with the plight of the imprisoned family.

As if one cue, the man took out a copper coin, just one, and handed it to the Tzaddik, who instead of throwing it back at him, thanked him sincerely and wholeheartedly, while his two gabba'im held themselves back from administering a tounge-lashing at the wealthy fellow. After all, they had promised to be quiet.

As the trio took leave and walked down the pathway, the miser called for them to return. "What an awful story, my friends. This is so incredibly sad? How much was the total sum again?" The Baal HaTanya responded with calmness that they needed 3,000 rubles, of which the man handed him 1,000. Once more, the Tzaddik thanked the man, and took leave.

Again, as he made his way down the path, the miser called him back. This time came the full remaining sum of 2,000 rubles which totaled to the full amount needed. The wealthy man thanked them earnestly for giving him the special opportunity to fulfill this mitzvah.

Bewildered at what just occurred, the Rebbes two gabba'im expressed so, but the Baal HaTanya was not surprised. "Every person who comes to this man" he explained, "throws his donation in his face and because of that he has never tasted the true enjoyment of giving.

"All he needed was a chance. Once I demonstrated appreciation for his copper coin, he wanted to give more and more.

"That is the secret of giving. Once you taste the joy, you will never want to stop