Almsgiving
There is a rabbinic dictum, A rabbi told me, That one should give money Whenever a beggar asks. The shame of the ask, he said, Proved the necessity. Respect the shame, lighten The burden. Give when asked. He continued: it needn’t be much. A coin or two, a bill if you have it, But, he stressed, always with a Pleasant countenance and friendly demeanor. Mindful of the Rabbi, I carried Coins to offer to those who asked and I hope that I remembered to smile. When I discharged his charge. Leaving my local drugstore last week, A homeless man whom I’ve seen before Asked for some pocket change. My pocket was empty, I realized that of late I rarely carry coin. I rarely carry cash. I have a wallet full of plastic cards. Or digital applications To close a purchase With speed and little human interface, by Pushing a button on my phone. I’m sorry, no change I said to the man Whom I’ve seen before, Worn down by the street, unkempt hair, beard, Knit cap, baggy pants, strong odor, Bashful, but bold in his ask, And to whom before I usually gave a quarter or two - a token. I hoped I remembered to give that then with A smile and the common saying Commonly overlooked in my quarters: God bless you. He’d answer with some Unexpected warmth: And God bless you too. I need to note for myself That I should always carry Some change for the homeless Who cross my path, And who provide me with a Needed blessing. Charity should be given with a friendly countenance, with joy, and with a good heart; the giver should, sympathize with the poor man, and should speak words of comfort to him. If he gives with a displeased countenance he loses his reward. If the poor man stretches out his hand and he has nothing to give him, he should not scold and raise his voice to him, but should speak gently to him and show him his goodness of heart; namely, that he wishes to give him something but cannot. A gloss: It is forbidden to turn away a poor man entirely empty-handed. Let him give something, if only a fig, for it is written, "Oh, let not the oppressed return ashamed." Psalms 74:21. Shulchan Arukh, Yoreh De’ah 249: 3-4