Humanity needs physical and spiritual nourishment

A congregant once came before the Maggid of Koznitz to inform him about a poor man who spent his day in the house of study. “Rabbi,” he said, “you need to take pity and show mercy to a poor man who lives in our village. He spends the entire day studying in the Beit Midrash because he has no other place to go. He spends his night sleeping on the street without a morsel of food in his stomach until the Beit Midrash opens in the morning and he returns to his studies.”

The Maggid answered him: “You want me to take pity on this man, this scholar and tzaddik who spends all day studying Torah? He doesn’t need our sympathy. Rather you should take pity on those people who are blessed by God and lack nothing, yet do not take even one minute to open a holy book or pray. These people need your sympathy and compassion.

“This poor man you told me about, who spends all day with God, doesn’t need your pity. Instead he needs your help! It is your obligation to make sure he has food to eat, clothes to wear, and a place to sleep.”

The Maggid makes a noteworthy observation. Although humans have spiritual as well as physical needs, it is only their physical needs that we can help meet. Our spiritual searches must start from within.

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Rabbi Rosenthal is spiritual leader of Tifereth Israel Synagogue.  He may be contacted via leonard.rosenthal@sdjewishworld.com