Everybody knows the importance of tzedakkah. One of the scriptural basis for this mitzvah is found in this week’s Torah portion Re-eh. “If, however, there is a needy person among, one of your kinsmen in any of your settlements…do not harden your heart and shut your hand against your needy kinsman. Rather, you must open your hand…” (Dt. 15:7-8) Ibn Ezra teaches us in his commentary that it is insufficient just to give the poor person money. He explains the phrase “do not harden your heart” to mean “by refraining from addressing comforting words to him.”
Rabbi Zelig Pliskin in his book Growth through Torah tells this story about Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, one of the most important Orthodox poskim, deciders of Jewish Law, in the 20th century.
“Once Rabbi Moshe Feinstein and a student accompanying him were rushing to an important meeting; they were already quite late. A poor elderly Jew stopped them for a donation, and then started talking about his problems. The Rosh HaYeshiva (Rabbi Feinstein) gave him several dollars and then stood listening to him as if he had all the time in the world. The student wondered if perhaps the Rosh HaYeshiva had concluded that they were too late for the meeting.
“Finally the poor man finished and the Rosh HaYeshiva started to walk even more quickly than before. The student asked him, ‘Why did the Rosh HaYeshiva stand and listen? Couldn’t he have just given the money and gone on, since we’re in such a rush?’
“The Rosh HaYeshiva answered that listening to someone unburden his heart is worth more to the person than money.” (page 418-419)
Leo Buscaglia was correct when he said: “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” Don't harden your heart as we prepare for the High Holidays. You never know whose life you will turn around.
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