By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal
SAN DIEGO — The Chafetz Chaim was one of the greatest Jewish ethicists and moralists of all time. He took his name from the verse from the book of Psalms, chapter 34:
“Who is the man who is eager for life;
who desires years of good fortune?
Guard your tongue from evil,
your lips from deceitful speech.
Shun evil and do good;
seek amity and pursue it.” (Psalsm 34:13-15)
The Chafetz Chaim always looked for the good in others and sought to inspire them to greater acts of tzedakah and mitzvot.
It is told that when the Chafetz Chaim decided to build a new building for his yeshiva, a very wealthy man approached him and said, “Rabbi, God has blessed me with great wealth. I would like to give thanks to God by building your yeshiva for you with my own money!”
The Chafetz Chaim smiled and said, “That is a very generous offer, and I pray that God will bless you for your generosity. But I must decline. The building of a yeshiva or a synagogue is a great mitzvah. If I allow it to be built with your money alone, I will be keeping other Jews from participating in this important and holy task.
“We learn this from the instructions that God gave Moshe concerning the building of the Mishkan: “Even though it might have been possible for any number of Israelites alone to build the Mishkan, God said that every Israelite must have the privilege of contributing.” (Iturei Torah, Shemot 206)
The Chafetz Chaim was teaching an important lesson about tzedakah and the support of Jewish communal institutions. What he was saying is that not only is it the responsibility of every Jew to contribute to the building and upkeep of synagogues, communal institutions and Eretz Yisrael, it is a privilege as well.
Some Jews think that Judaism is a burden, a system of limitations and restrictions that are meant to minimize their opportunities for enjoyment and fun.
But Jews who take our tradition seriously know that the mitzvot were not given to us as a burden, but rather to shape our character and to elevate us closer to God. Supporting synagogues, Jewish Federations, and other organizations that sustain our great tradition and caring for our fellow Jews are holy tasks.
Building and sustaining them allows us to be part of that holy process. Rather than a burden, Jews who love Judaism regard supporting and strengthening Jewish institutions as a privilege.
*
Rabbi Rosenthal is spiritual leader of Tifereth Israel Synagogue in San Diego. He may be contacted via leonard.rosenthal@sdjewishworld.com