Parshad Re, I want you to listen to some stories and ask yourself what is going on in these

stories? What are they trying to tell us? Here we are, three rabbis. Number one, Rabbi Abba,

used to bind money in his scarf, sling it on his back and place it at the disposal of the poor.

I would sort of creep up on him from the back and take what they needed from his back.

Number two, Maupa had a poor man in his neighborhood into whose door he used to throw

four coins every day.

Once the poor man said, I really want to see who actually gives me all this money.

That day, Maupah happened to be studying late in the big midrash and his wife was coming home with him.

And the poor man saw them moving towards the door, just ready to put some money by the door, as Marukpa always used to do.

And they fled from him and they hid.

And the Gamara asked, why did they do this?

Because it is taught, rather throw yourself into a fiery furnace than publicly put anyone to

shame.

And publicly shame somebody by having to receive Sadaka. And finally, we have a Rabbi Yonah who saw a man of

good family who'd lost his money. He was once quite well off. He'd lost all his money

and he was ashamed to accept charity. And Rabbi Yonah went him and said, I heard that an

inheritance has come your way.

Maybe the lawyers haven't told you this, but I haven't to know you're about to inherit a great

deal of money.

So here's an article of some value.

Sell it and use the proceeds.

And when your inheritance comes in, then you can give me back the money.

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