Answering A Question With A Story
A person recently asked me the question, "How can I continue to enjoy the luxury that I live in when there are people starving and suffering in the world?"
I answered this question by sending the person a story about the Degel Machaneh Ephraim that addresses this issue:
Once a wealthy man who was known to be a miser, came to the Degel Machaneh Ephraim and boasted how he was able to subsist on a piece of black bread, some herring, and onions.
The Degel became angry and he reprimanded the rich man. "You are committing a sin when you eat such a measly meal," he said. "A person of means who was blessed by G-d with great wealth, should eat a sumptuous meal every day. A meal consisting of meat, fish, wine, and all the delicacies."
When the Degel's disciples heard this they asked him, "Rabbi, why were you so concerned with the meals of this miser? Does it matter to others what he eats?"
"It isn't him about whom I am thinking," replied the Degel with a smile. "I am thinking of the poor who have to come to him for tzedakah. If he is accustomed to eat meat and fish every day, he would then realize what it means to go without it. He will have more consideration of the poor and give them bigger donations."
1 Comments:
yes and no, it makes sense. Let me tell you why it doesn't. There is a war survivor story that hit me harder than the others. It was written by a Hungarian Jewess. Now, if you know the war history, Hungary was not under Hitler's control until years after Poland. While Jews in Poland were burning and starving, the Jews in Hungary were vacationing and living in luxury at times. This girl started taking her own money and using it to save Polish Jews get across the border to safety. During this time, she got engaged and her parents told her "Chayecha Kodmim" that she had to spend money on a "baal bateshe" wardrobe and wedding gifts. She did so - and all was lost when Hitler took control. Gone was all her beautiful outfits, and she had lost her chance of having the Zechus of saving lives. She, out of her whole family, survived. None of her clothing and luxuries did.
If you observe Schindler's life, you will note that at the end of his life he because a bit nuts, hating money, saying "this could have saved lives".
The only things you can buy with your money that will last and give you real joy are Mitzvos.
That was a lame excuse for excusing yourself from feeling the pain of others as you luxuriate in our land-of-plenty
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