Why Akiva Said Charity Saves Us from Gehenna

Midrash Aggadah Baba Batra 10a

Curated by The Jewish Mythology Team · Published January 19, 2025

The Roman governor Turnus Rufus thought he had caught Rabbi Akiva in a contradiction. "If your God loves the poor," he pressed, "why doesn't He feed them Himself?"

Akiva did not hesitate. "So that by feeding them we might escape the judgment of Gehenna."

Turnus Rufus thought he had his opening. "On the contrary," he said. "The very fact that you feed them will condemn you. Let me tell you a parable. Imagine a king who imprisons a servant who has offended him and commands that no food or drink reach him. Then some subject, against the king's decree, smuggles the prisoner bread and water. When the king finds out, will he not be furious? And you — you are called servants. As Scripture says, for unto me the children of Israel are servants (Leviticus 25:55)."

Akiva smiled. "And I will tell you a parable too. Imagine a king who is angry with his son and imprisons him and orders that no food or drink reach him. A subject goes and feeds the son anyway. When the king finds out — will he not reward that man? We are not called only servants. We are called children. You are children of the Lord your God (Deuteronomy 14:1). The poor at your door are the king's own sons."

Baba Batra 10a preserves the exchange. Charity is not defiance of Heaven. It is loyalty to the family.

Themes

Charity Divine justice Poverty Rabbis

Biblical References

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