In G-d we trust

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Last week I heard from many friends who were concerned about losing a lot of money.  I have been thinking this week about what lesson can be learned from a bank’s failure.  


The Baal Shem Tov (the saintly founder of the Chassidic movement) said that everything we see or hear teaches us a lesson in our service to Hashem.  Certainly this is true from a catastrophic event which affects so many people and dominates the headlines.


When the 2008 big financial crash happened, a person came to me to lament the loss of three million dollars, and to express with great regret: “I could have given it to Tzedakah!”  


This statement has been sitting with me ever since.  Had he given the money to Tzedakah, he would likely not only have survived the downturn, but that  $3M sum would have been in his spiritual bank account forever.  As our Sages taught, and as we have seen over the millennia, he would have reaped many material blessings too.


There is a fascinating statement in the Torah relating to the tzedakah.  Hashem expresses His love for our forefather Avraham: “For I have known him because he commands his sons and his household after him, that they should keep the way of the Lord to perform (Tzedakah Umishpat) righteousness and justice (Bereshit 18:19).  Note the translation of the word Tzedakah as righteousness, and that “Tzedakah Umishpat” – righteousness and justice - go together.  


In order to have a world filled with kindness and sharing, Hashem gave more to the rich and less to the poor so that the rich could give Tzedakah. While Hashem could certainly feed every person in the world directly, and cover the cost of education and other expenses, in this way both the rich and the poor are equals in fulfilling Hashem’s plan.


So a person who has more money than they need to live on is actually like a banker.  Hashem made a deposit with them for those in need to withdraw as needed.  Giving Tzedakah is therefore not an act of “charity,” giving what’s mine because of my benevolence, rather it is an act of righteousness – giving what was entrusted to me for those who need it. 


This is the meaning of “righteousness and judgment” that invokes Hashem’s love for us.  We judge ourselves – is that extra money really mine?  Or did Hashem give me the great merit to create kindness and goodness in the world by giving it to the person or organization for whom it was designated?  That is one reason why Tzedakah is the most important Mitzvah – it fulfills the Hashem’s plan for us on earth.


I think there are two lessons to be learned from a bank going under.  First, if the bank is not able to pay its obligations… I’ll leave that up to your imagination.  Second, each of us gets to “judge” and ask,  what would have happened if I lost that money?  How much do I really need for myself and my family and how much of what I have is purely accumulation of wealth?  


Giving Tzedakah is not a liability, it is an asset.  What we give away in Tzedakah is always ours, and no bank failure can ever affect that.  And as we are guaranteed in the Torah, by giving Tzedakah we make more money – it comes back many times over.  And this blessing comes from Hashem’s infinite bank account.  


Which bank would you rather trust?


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