וכי ימיך אחיך ומטה ידו עמך והחזקת בו (בהר כה:לה)

The Chovas Daas, the Gaon Reb Yaakov of Lisa ztz״l, once traveled to the city of Levov together with several distinguished Yidden from his town to raise funds for an important tzedakah cause. When they approached the home of a well-known, wealthy individual, his companions hesitated to enter, saying that this man was stingy and unlikely to give any tzedakah—it would be a waste of time.

The Chovas Daas insisted that he wished to go in, expressing confidence that with Hashem’s help, they would leave with a respectable donation.

“Nu, if the tzaddik wishes, we will go,” they agreed.

The wealthy man received them graciously, and the Chovas Daas explained the purpose of their visit. The man responded: “Chazal teach in מסכת בבא בתרא that one who gives a ‘פרוטה’ – coin, to a poor person is blessed with six brachos, while one who speaks kindly to him and lifts his spirits receives eleven brachos. We see from here that speaking is even greater than giving money. Therefore, I have chosen to focus on encouraging the poor with my words rather than giving tzedakah.”

The Chovas Daas replied: “There is another teaching of Chazal in אבות (ה:י): ‘האומר שלי שלך ושלך שלי עם הארץ’—one who says ‘what is mine is yours and what is yours is mine’ is considered an עם הארץ. This can be understood as follows: all gold and silver ultimately belong to Hashem, as it says ‘לי הכסף ולי הזהב.’ When a Yid gives tzedakah, he is not truly giving his own possessions, since everything belongs to Hashem. However, when one speaks kindly to a poor person, offering encouragement and warmth, that comes from himself—it is something personal that he gives for Hashem.

“This is what Chazal mean: one who says ‘שלי שלך’—the kind words that are ‘mine,’ I will give ‘to You,’ to Hashem—but ‘שלך,’ the money which is really Hashem’s, ‘שלי,’ I will keep for myself—such a person is called an עם הארץ.”

Understandably, the wealthy man of Levov did not wish to bear such a title. In front of everyone, he rose and contributed a generous donation.