Are we doing everything we can to bring holiday joy?

March 16, 2018   

Preparations for Passover are beginning to gather momentum. Some are renovating the house. Some are replacing furniture. Some are buying new clothes. Some are stocking up on spectacular utensils. Some are planning the festive Seder meal. And some are already doing their shopping and filling carts with all sorts of goodies.

At the same time, there are many families for whom the approaching Passover holiday is a source of concern.

Even in normal times, they have trouble making ends meet. Debts are piling up. Interest rates on bank loans are eating away at their meager salaries. Now the holidays are coming, and the deficit hole will deepen even further.

The natural tendency among many is to direct the problem to the government.

Even if this is true, and the government has the power to change its priorities, raise wages and lower the cost of living – this will not solve the plight of many families, who do not know how they will be able to celebrate the upcoming holiday.

The same caring

The culture of helping others is highly developed in Israel. There are many organizations that help those in need. Many donate willingly, especially around the holidays.

There is the institution of the "Passover meal," practiced in Jewish communities for generations, which is designed to satisfy exactly this need - the difficulty many families have in celebrating the costly holiday.

And yet, each and every one of us should honestly ask ourselves if we are indeed doing everything in our power to bring holiday joy to families in need. Isn't this sometimes giving for the sole purpose of a clear conscience?

""I've already donated," we say, and feel like we've done our duty. Is that really all we can do?

In Judaism, giving aid to the needy is called 'tzedakah' - from the word 'tzedakah' (righteousness). A person who gives charity to the needy is not 'doing a favor', but rather fulfilling the duty of justice. The money we have, even if we earned it with our own hands, is a blessing given to us by the Creator of the world. He who gave us the blessing expects us not to think only of ourselves, but is determined that we have been given a mission to pass on this abundance to the needy.

The Torah commands us to 'love your neighbor as yourself.' We must treat others with the same care we treat ourselves.

Is it right and just that we load up grocery carts full of goodies, buy new dishes, expensive clothes, and gifts, and settle for a meager donation to a family in need? Is this gap just?

Giving that benefits you

Many of us can give much more. Provide a needy family with much more comprehensive assistance than a food basket.

Think of how much happiness and joy you can give to such a family. How many smiles and what holiday joy. The children will have new clothes. Fine foods will be on the holiday table. Worry-ridden faces will be brightened.

There is no doubt that those who do this will have much greater holiday joy. There is no doubt that the Creator of the world will not remain indebted, and that generous giving to others will open the gates of blessing and abundance for us.

When they see above that we serve as good messengers, who do not take everything for themselves, but know how to give charity generously – they will give us more and more, out of joy, contentment, and happiness.