כל ישראל יש להם חלק לעולם הבא

The Dubna Maggid zt’’l once approached a wealthy man known for his stinginess and asked him for a donation to a worthy tzedakah cause. The rich man refused.

As the Maggid turned to leave, he said, “You should know, Reb Yid, that a place in Olam Haba (the World to Come) is destined for you!”

The wealthy man was taken aback. “What do you mean?” he asked in astonishment. “I’m not giving you any tzedakah—why would I deserve Olam Haba?”

The Dubna Maggid responded with a story:

“There was once a wealthy miser who lived in a town. Before he died, he warned the chevra kadisha (burial society) that they must bury all his possessions with him. Having no choice, they complied.

When the miser arrived at the Heavenly Court, his book of deeds was opened, and it showed he had never given a single coin to tzedakah. He was asked, ‘Why didn’t you give charity?’

The man replied, ‘In the world below, there are many liars and swindlers. How could I know who was truly in need and who was pretending? So, I brought all my wealth with me to the True World—here, I am ready to give tzedakah!’

The Heavenly Court deliberated. ‘It cannot be,’ they said, ‘that this man is the only clever one who brought his wealth to the World of Truth. Let us find two others who did the same, and if so, we will grant him entry to Olam Haba.’

The angels searched high and low and found only one other person who was buried with all his possessions—Korach.

Therefore, the court ruled: ‘One miser is not enough. We need three. Until then, entry is denied.”

The Dubna Maggid looked the man in the eye and concluded:

“I see that you, too, are clinging tightly to your wealth, as if planning to take it with you to the grave. If so, you may become the second, alongside that wealthy miser and Korach. And then, just maybe, you’ll gain your place in Olam Haba…”