Does Money Make the World Go Round?

Q. How should money be viewed? Is money a divine gift that should be used to serve God and holy purposes? Or is money a means to tempt people and their desire to do negative things?

A. Thanks for your question. I would say that Judaism definitely views money as something with the potential for great goodness. Which way things actually go depends on our attitudes towards it. Our practice is to take the mundane and to elevate it into something more spiritual. For example, we elevate the act of eating through kosher food and reciting blessings. Similarly, we can elevate the idea of money through what we do with it. If we spend it charitably, if we lend it without interest, if we are careful with other people's money... these are things that can elevate the idea of money. But just as someone can be a glutton with food, someone can be a miser with money. We have the potential to elevate the mundane, but not everyone will do so. That doesn't make money evil. Yes, some people will be tempted to do the wrong things with their money, but that's not the money's fault any more than it's a hamburger's fault if someone is a glutton.

Q. People who don't have enough money are tempted to do dishonest things to get more money. So, does the accumulation of wealth cause distance from humanity? Or is it a mechanism to serve God and holy purposes?

A. A trait isn't inherently good or bad; it all depends on how we use it. Someone who likes to spill blood could become a serial killer, but he could also choose to become a butcher or a surgeon. We can channel our urges in positive or negative directions.

So who doesn't have enough money? You might assume a needy person but plenty of rich people commit financial crimes. Maybe I don't have enough money to build a children's hospital, so I hold a fundraiser. That's different from someone who embezzles to buy a private island.

As with food and physical relations, one can use money properly or improperly. And one can go about acquiring it properly or improperly.

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Q. Is freedom more important for a nation than wealth (money)?

A. In my opinion, this is a false dichotomy. It's like asking, which is more important, traffic laws or banking regulations? They're both important, just in different ways. Having no freedom is terrible and causes problems for people, and having no money is terrible and causes problems for people - they just cause different problems. You can ask people which problem they'd rather have but it's like asking if they'd rather be deaf of blind. There's no "right" answer, only personal preferences.

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Q. For the past year we have been struggling financially. We got into debt and I'm receiving unemployment. A friend told us we should give 20% of any money that comes in to tzedaka because it's righteous and we can test Hashem, but ever since we have been doing that we find ourselves struggling to pay rent and other expenses. Could we perhaps give 10%? I'm worried that if we stop giving 20%, we won't be righteous and deserving in Hashem's eyes. Is there any source for that?

A. Thanks for your question. I completely disagree with the advice that you were given. I'll give you some quotes from the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch because that's the closest source at hand, but other sources would concur:

34:2 Every person must give charity as he is able, based upon his individual circumstances. Even a poor person who lives off of charity must pay a portion forward to others. Even if this is only a small amount, he should not hesitate because his small amount is as significant as a wealthy person’s large amount. The Talmud in Menachos (110a) notes that an offering of an animal, an offering of birds, and a flour offering are all called pleasing to God. It makes no difference to Him how much or how little one is able to give, only what is in one’s heart when giving. However, one who only has just enough to live on should not give charity because his own needs must come first.

34:4 In the first year, a person should give one-tenth of his principal to charity; each subsequent year, he should give one-tenth of his profit. This is what an average person would give, though one-fifth of these is better than one-tenth. More than a fifth is not good because a person should not deplete his own resources.

So, 10% is what the average person should give. 20% is meritorious but only for those who are in a position to do so. We do believe that God rewards us for our generosity, but we have to survive in the meantime. When times are tough and one gives what he can, that's very precious to God. One should not give the rent money to charity.

Rabbi Jack's latest book, Ask Rabbi Jack, is now available from Kodesh Press and on Amazon.com.