Advice on: Money

RAV BERLAND'S ADVICE ON: MONEY

Continuing our translation of Etzot HaNachal, a compendium of practical advice from Rav Eliezer Berland, shlita, based on the teachings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov.

MONEY

HAVING A LUST FOR MONEY IS THE BIGGEST CURSE THAT EXISTS.

* A person experiences their lust for money 24 hours a day – which is not something that you have with the other lusts.

IT’S ASSUR (FORBIDDEN) TO SAVE MONEY AT THE EXPENSE OF THE MITZVOTH.

* When you try to find a way to do a mitzvah on the cheap, and to save money at its expense, this brings a spirit of tumah (spiritual impurity) down upon you.
* When a person tries to do a mitzvah without spending any money on it, because he doesn’t want to lose the money, this brings judgments upon him.
* When a person starts looking for ways to do a mitzvah the cheapest possible way, it’s known that shedim (demonic forces) rule over everything he tries to accomplish.

A MITZVAH THAT’S DONE FOR ‘FREE’ (CHINAM) IS ALSO WORTH CHINAM (NOTHING).

* The holy Ari, zt’l, never wanted a discount on his mitzvahs.

IT’S POSSIBLE TO TEST HASHEM WITH TZEDAKA (CHARITY). IF A PERSON GIVES $100 TO TZEDAKA, THIS WILL CHANGE INTO $1000.

* This is the inyan (matter) of shemita, on Har Sinai, this was to cause n’shemet – a ‘loosening’ [of the purse strings], to distribute tzedaka.

A PERSON CAN GIVE HIS VERY LAST COIN TO TZEDAKA, AND HE’LL START TO SEE SALVATIONS AND MIRACLES, THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE.[1]

* If a poor person comes to a person’s home twice, to ask for tzedaka, then there is a possibility that a decree has been made on that person, and that if he gives the poor person tzedaka – maybe 100 shekels, or even, his last shekel, and then he just trusts in Hashem – then he will be saved from the decree of death, and his days will be lengthened.

A PERSON NEEDS TO BE FREE OF ANY DOUBT THAT HE WILL NOT SO MUCH AS TOUCH A PENNY THAT BELONGS TO SOMEONE ELSE.

[1]For a real-life example of this, please see the story of David HaLevi, who was saved from a terrorist stabbing attack in the merit of giving his last 10 shekels to charity shortly beforehand.