Spirituality

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I

cringe when I read the story of
bread, and careless ease was in her
Sodom in Vayera. Not only am I
and in her daughters; neither did she
horrified by the wickedness of the strengthen the hand of the poor and
city, but more so by the complete and
the needy"
total lack of righteous people within
The people were doing well for
that city. In this case, the city could
themselves, and they forgot about
not be saved because Abraham could
those that were not as fortunate. They
not find the quota of righteous people
forgot they we are mandated to care
to spare its inhabitants.
for the poor, the hungry,
Beyond even this disturb-
the naked and the infirm.
ing truth, I am saddened
Of course, if giving
by my thoughts when I
money is simply not an
consider what would hap-
option, we can always
pen if this test were to be
give of our time and
brought upon us, here in
talents. There are card
our community, in the 21st
games to be played at
century. I know for a fact
nursing homes, shelves
that this city is brimming
to be stocked at food
with generous, kind-hearted
pantries and bridges that
and compassionate people.
should be built between
Rabbi Jennifer
Unfortunately, our city is
communities. The value
Ti sdale
also brimming with vio-
of our time and effort
Speci al to the
lence and poverty, and now
is immeasurable; it is
J ew s h News
the entire state is trying to
priceless. Sometimes, it
survive a with the highest
is people-power that is
unemployment rate in the country.
needed even more than funds. We all
In these kinds of situations, people
have that power inside of us and it is
have to make choices. Whereas they
just waiting to be put to good use.
might have been more charitable,
In these tough economic times, it is
perhaps they might choose not to give true that giving can become more dif-
because there is just not enough to
ficult. I am a big believer that the $18
make ends meet. Or, maybe the choice gift is just as important as the $10,000
is between giving charitably or getting gift. Never underestimate the impor-
a new coat or the latest pair of boots.
tance of your contribution and how it
Many times, when the threat or
can grow when others give in kind.
sight of poverty is not right at our
No matter how tough things
front door, we ignore it altogether.
become, we must always remember
Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman, or
that we are each other's keeper.
the Ramban, argued that there were
The reward is not only in the benefit
all kinds of evil practices happening
to our community, it is in the act of
in Sodom. "Yet, their fate was sealed
giving itself.
because of this sin — they did not
strengthen the hand of the poor and
Jennifer Tisdale is a rabbi at Temple Israel
the needy ..."
in West Bloomfield.
Now, I am hardly comparing our
community to the people of Sodom,
however, it is a powerful statement
Conversations
made by Ramban; among all of the
How can we give of ourselves
sins of the people of Sodom, some of
and what we have if money is
them being too heinous to mention
not an option? How familiar are
here, not helping the impoverished
you with the organizations in
was the one that determined that they
our community that are commit-
would be destroyed!
ted to helping people in need?
Ramban quotes Ezekiel 16:49 to
What skills do you have that
illustrate his point. In that passage it
could be utilized to help fight
says, "Behold, this was the iniquity of
poverty in our city?
thy sister Sodom: pride, fullness of

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