It’s still a good idea – Re’eh
Being generous to the needy is commanded many times in many ways in the Torah. One has to give: that’s all there is to it. But the sidra says not simply “you shall give”, but naton titten lo, “you shall surely give to him” (Deut. 15:10) – literally, “in giving you shall give to him”.
The sages say, “Israel are holy: there are those who want (to give) but do not have, and those that have but do not want (to give)”.
Yet how can it be holy if you have and do not want to give?
Rabbi Meir Bar Ilan applies these words to the person who gives but does not really want to – the mitzvah is done, but reluctantly. Why does such a person give? Out of a feeling of guilt, because of social pressure, or for some other reason other than spontaneous decency. Nonetheless, even though the motive may not be the highest, the fact is that the person does give, the need are helped, and poverty is alleviated.
The implication is important. The rebuilding of Jewish life after the Holocaust and the creation and strengthening of Israel have required vast amounts of funding, and almost every dollar has come from the Jewish people. Some givers had to be flattered, cajoled or shamed into being generous and the tactics of some fundraisers have been questioned and criticised.
But the fact is that there are occasions when there simply isn’t time to wait until every potential donor has been trained and conditioned to give with a full heart without prompting or persuading.
When the need is urgent, even a gift given partly for ulterior motives is immensely valuable.
