The Miserly Benefactor

via Machon Or Hachasidus

אַרְבַּע מִדּוֹת בְּנוֹתְנֵי צְדְקָה . . לֹא יִתֵּן וְלֹא יִתְּנוּ אֲחֵרִים, רָשָׁע: אַרְבַּע מִדּוֹת בְּהוֹלְכֵי בֵּית הַמִּדְרָשׁ . . לֹא הוֹלֵךְ וְלֹא עוֹשֶׂה, רָשָׁע: (אבות ה, יג-יד)

There are four types of contributors to charity... d) He who wants neither himself nor others to give, is wicked. There are four types among those who attend the study hall… d) He who neither goes nor does, is wicked. (Pirkei Avos 5:13-14)

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The expression “four types of contributors…” indicates that these are not four attitudes toward contributing and attending, but four types of people who are attenders and contributors. How then can the Mishna list those who do not give charity at all, and those who do not attend the Beis Midrash at all, as one of four types of contributors to charity and four types of attenders of the study hall, when this fourth category do not give or attend at all?

By including even the non-givers and non-attenders, covering every possible degree of charitableness and attendance of the Beis Midrash or lack thereof, the discussion in the Mishna covers every possible type of Jew. The Mishna therefore refers to them all as “contributors” and “attenders” to teach that the true identity and inner desire of every Jew is to give charity and to attend the Beis Midrash, even if practically speaking, he currently does not. Like the famous ruling of the Rambam (Geirushin 2:20), that “it is the genuine and sincere desire of every Jew to observe all the Mitzvos and to avoid all the prohibitions...”

This Mishna serves as a message of hope to one who knows that he isn’t as charitable as he could be, or as devout in his attendance and involvement in Torah study as he should be. Know that although you haven’t made it happen until now, the Torah regards you as a giver and studier, believing and testifying that within your very nature is a desire to give charity and to study. The Mishna even lists you along with the most philanthropic and consistent, for even in your current stage, reaching theirs is not very far off.

Toras Menachem 5747 vol. 4, pp. 221-223