Charity in Secret Saves from Wrath
Prv. 21:13
How often do we look away from need and close our ears to the calls for help from those in need? And how often is it our own cries that go unanswered?
With so many asking for help, on subway cars, on the streets and on our screens, with so much urgent and critical need to assist so many who are now starving, suffering, homeless and hopeless - how do we manage to keep showing up with generous open hearts?
In today’s chapter Wisdom wants us to make giving a priority -- to keep our eyes, ears, minds and hearts as open as possible to each other -- and especially to those who need us to show up, step up and do what we can to help out.
It’s a moral imperative but our ancients knew as well as all fundraisers do today - it sometimes requires more than a kind heart to get us to be helpful. It’s often helpful to get us to care by giving attention to the human fears that something similar will also happen to us.
Fear is often an incentive that succeeds to pry open stubborn minds and wallets.
Wisdom has suggestions - She calls out to us to pay attention to how we should show up:
אֹטֵ֣ם אׇ֭זְנוֹ מִזַּעֲקַת־דָּ֑ל גַּֽם־ה֥וּא יִ֝קְרָ֗א וְלֹ֣א יֵעָנֶֽה׃
One who turns a deaf ear to the cry of the wretched
Will likewise call and not be answered.
Prv. 21:13
Whatever the motivation for generosity - moral imperative or fear of consequences, this focus on philanthropy is central to Jewish wisdom and communal living.
Prized about all forms of charity is the one that is done discreetly - with no rewards or public knowledge, not for the sake of fame or a seat in heaven. It’s what makes ‘secret santa’ or ‘secret Maccabee’ such a popular holiday tradition too.
The next verse spells out for the first time in Hebrew literature the term ‘Matan B’Seter’ - Charity conducted in secret, for the sake of dignity and respect:
מַתָּ֣ן בַּ֭סֵּתֶר יִכְפֶּה־אָ֑ף וְשֹׁ֥חַד בַּ֝חֵ֗ק חֵמָ֥ה עַזָּֽה׃
A gift in secret subdues anger,
A generous present given in private, lets fierce rage flee.
Prv. 21:13
There have always been kind donors who performed their names on building, on mosaic walls or plaques. But there was always the pious tradition of supporting those in need with no fanfare or any transparency at all. A famous Talmduic tale illustrates this value and quotes this verse from Proverbs while also - surprise -- citing Jewish demonology and magic:
The Jerusalem Talmud tells it that way:
Rabbi Ḥinena bar Pappai used to distribute his charity in the night, in people’s courtyards. Once the prince of demons encountered him. He said to him, did not our teacher teach us (Deut 19:14): “Do not displace your neighbor’s boundaries”?
The rabbi said to him, but is it not also written (Prov. 21:14): “A gift in secret appeases anger.” The demon prince was terrified and fled from him.”
Whatever is happening here with the demon prince (?) who quotes Scripture and the nocturnal trespassing that is deemed legal to allow for secret charity -- the point of the tale is well taken. It’s on us to be there for the needs of those in our community in all the ways we can, even if it goes beyond our comfort zone or acceptable social norms. When it comes to the requirement to hear the calls for help - however we show up - it’s critical that we do - and not just for fear of what will or will not happen to us.
In their 2020 manifesto for a more justice, inclusion and equity driven Jewish community, the Not Free to Desist reiterated this central tenet of oue communal covenantal commitments:
“Judaism is based on a covenant which outlines the holy obligations we hold to one another as members of a community with a collective purpose. Our covenants remind us that those with power have an obligation to empower those with less, and remind us that those with freedom have an obligation to help free those who are without. When we honor our commitment to each other then our communities will flourish with rain at its proper time, grain, wine, oil, and grass in our fields. When we do not fully commit, we risk the future of our very community.”
Which call for support can you prioritize today and in the days ahead, with nobody knowing and not for any reason but the obligation to help everybody rise?
Image: Charity Box with the inscription "Secret Charity Saves from Wrath (Proverbs 21:13) Europe, 19th Century
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