The Book of Proverbs tells us, "A man's giving expands him" (Proverbs 18:16). But what does that really mean?
Well, Vayikra Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Leviticus, shares a few stories that might just shed some light on that.
Imagine this: Rabbi Eliezer, Rabbi Yehoshua, and the great Rabbi Akiva – powerhouses of Jewish wisdom – are traveling near Antioch, collecting donations for the sages. They encounter a man named Abba Yudan, known for his generosity. But this time, Abba Yudan is down on his luck. He turns pale when he sees the rabbis, worried he can’t contribute.
He goes to his wife, distressed. And here's where it gets interesting. His wife, described as even more righteous than he, suggests selling half of their remaining field. Think about that sacrifice! He does it, gives the money, and the rabbis bless him, praying for the restoration of what he's lost.
What happens next? Abba Yudan is plowing his remaining field when the earth literally opens up, swallowing his cow and breaking its leg. A disaster, right? But as he goes down to help the poor animal, his eyes are opened, and he discovers buried treasure! "My cow's leg was broken for my benefit!" he exclaims.
Later, the rabbis return and ask about Abba Yudan. They're told, "He is Abba Yudan with the slaves, Abba Yudan with the goats, Abba Yudan with the camels, Abba Yudan with the oxen. Who is able to see the face of Abba Yudan?" He's become incredibly wealthy!
When Abba Yudan greets them, they tell him, "Your prayer bore fruit, and the fruit bore fruit." And even though others gave more, they had written his name at the top of the list because of his sacrifice. The story ends with them quoting that very verse: "A man's giving expands him."
But the Vayikra Rabbah doesn't stop there. It gives us another story, this time about Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish who visited Basra. There he met another Abba Yudan, Abba Yudan Ramai. Now, ramai doesn’t mean he was a swindler, heaven forbid! But he was clever – meramei – in how he approached mitzvot, good deeds.
How so? He'd wait to see what everyone else pledged, and then he'd match the entire amount! At first, he'd abstain from pledging anything, leading others to think he wasn’t going to participate. Therefore, they would pledge more money so that the charity collection would meet its goals. Only afterward would he pledge as much as everyone else put together. Alternatively, the people would know that he would match their donations and therefore they would pledge more, knowing that their donation would lead to even greater gain for the charity. So, whether he was inspiring others to give more or simply doubling the impact, his giving was strategic. Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish, impressed, sat him right next to him and again quoted, "A man's giving expands him."
One more quick example: Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba was fundraising for a study hall in Tiberias. A man from Silkha pledged one liter of gold – a massive donation! Rabbi Ḥiyya, recognizing his generosity, gave him a place of honor and, you guessed it, recited the same verse.
Rabbi Abahu connects this idea to the Torah itself. He points out that Deuteronomy says, "Beware, lest you forsake the Levite" (Deuteronomy 12:19), followed by, "When the Lord your God will expand your border" (Deuteronomy 12:20). What's the link? Rabbi Abahu explains that God expands your wealth in accordance with your gifts.
Rabbi Aḥa, quoting Rabbi Hoshaya, even uses the analogy of sacrifices: if a servant brings a bull and his master brings a bull, the servant's offering takes precedence. It's like saying even a small act of generosity, coming from a place of humility or need, can be more powerful. He bases this on a teaching in Mishna Horayot (3:6) regarding which communal sacrifice comes first.
So, what are we left with? These stories aren't just about monetary wealth. They're about the expansion of spirit, the opening of possibilities, and the unexpected blessings that can flow from generosity. Maybe giving isn't just about what we give away, but about what it unlocks within us and around us. What do you think?