“When you vow a vow onto Hashem, do not defer to pay it, for Hashem will surely demand payment of it from you, and there would be sin upon you”. The Torah is talking about when one promises a Korban you should bring it as soon as possible. The same is true with Tzedakah in general that if one pledges to give charity, it’s as severe as he gave it already and the Torah says that Hashem will demand it from him. Why is it that the Torah put such an emphasis on paying up something you merely promised - that Hashem will be ‘doresh’-demand it? After all it’s only words, you didn’t do or not do anything. If I promise to buy you a gift and don’t give it to you, you might have a right to be upset, but you cannot demand it from me, you cannot take me to court just because I promised you a gift. So why does Hashem come and demand that we pay up the gifts we pledge to hekdish?
When we promise something to Hashem in the form of tzedakah, when he demands it, it’s in our benefit. Hashem can take care of the tzedakah himself he doesn’t need our contributions, rather it’s a zechus- opportunity that he gave us to take part in the building of his institutions. The reason we would promise something is that at that moment we are unable to give for whatever reason, but we’re inspired to give so we promise. Hashem at that moment looks at our will to give and gives us credit as if we gave. If we get credit for the promising then obviously he has a right to make a demand for the actual gift. The Dubbno Maggid gives a parable. I borrow something from you and give it to a judge as a gift. If you take me to court to get me to return the item to you, the judge will obviously do anything that will let him keep the object and try to tilt the judgment in my favor. So too Hashem, when we promise something since he sees it as he got it already and he’s enjoying our gift, he will do everything he can that will let him hold on to it and make sure you come through on your pledge.
No comments:
Post a Comment