Israel Diary
Jonny Lipczer, a former mazkir of Bnei Akiva and Director of Mizrachi, made aliyah in 2006. He lives in Jerusalem
Kosher beggars
Jerusalem is filled with many wonderful sights and scenery. Sadly, many of the streets are also filled with poor people struggling to collect some shekels to sustain themselves.
One of those streets is named after Queen Helene, a convert to Judaism who lived in the Second Temple period. She was praised for her generosity to the poor. Today there are many people who, like Queen Helene, realise that it is their Jewish responsibility to be charitable in order to benefit those less fortunate.
Outside my office – next to Jerusalem’s Great Synagogue – there is a man who spends much of his time collecting money from passers by. He is grateful of money, but also asks for food from people going to one of the local restaurants.
This week I witnessed something remarkable. Someone gave him some freshly-made hot food. Before he ate it, he asked where it was from, and when he heard, he rejected the gift, explaining that the restaurant in question, although kosher, didn’t meet the high standards of kashrut that he adheres to. It seems that in Israel, beggars can be choosers!
The Western Wall is another part of Jerusalem popular with the poor. It is impossible to approach the Kotel without being accosted for a donation. On one of my recent visits to the area, a needy man who had been collecting money was then himself approached by another beggar. Although he was in a dire situation, he didn’t relinquish the opportunity to do a mitzvah, and he handed over a couple of shekels.
The Talmud teaches us that a person who gives even one small coin to a beggar is deemed worthy of being admitted to behold the Divine presence. The beggars I have met here have inspired me by upholding their own religious beliefs, and reminded me of the principle to help all people, regardless of one’s own situation.
Shabbat Shalom.
