Charity As A Victory

There was a good man who, whenever he was approached with the request for a charitable donation, would stick his hand into his pocket and take out a few coins. Then, as the recipient started to walk away he hastily mumbled “just a minute . . . ,” he would then dig into his pocket again and come up with another few coins.

Someone who noticed his custom once asked him: “Why do you always give in two installments? Could you not take out the full sum you want to give at once?” “Every act of charity is a victory over our selfish nature,” replied the good man. “I just can’t resist the opportunity to score two victories for the price of one . . .” a story from the Chassidic Masters

“Man is worthy of being called Man only if he’s charitable.” — Yalkut Reuvaini