Have you ever committed to something bigger than your budget?
Maybe you pledged to a building campaign, said you’d cover the cost of a Kiddush, or told a friend “Don’t worry, I’ve got this”, and then quietly wondered how on earth you were going to pull it off.
That moment of stepping up beyond your means is actually the secret to opening new channels of blessing.
In this week’s Torah portion, we discuss tzaraas (a spiritual skin condition) and the purification sacrifices required afterward. Because animal sacrifices are expensive, the Torah has a two-tiered system: a wealthy person brings the more expensive animal sacrifices, whereas a poor person brings sacrifices made of just flour.
What happens if a poor person makes a vow to cover the sacrifice costs for a wealthy person? The Rambam (Maimonides) rules: the moment a poor person accepts the commitment, the Torah now views them as wealthy, and holds them to the wealthy person’s standard.
When we stretch beyond our financial reality to help another Jew something changes in the spiritual accounting world. G-d looks at what that person committed to, not what they currently have, and opens up new channels of blessing to make it happen.
The Rebbe shared a story that his father-in-law (the previous Rebbe), once encouraged someone to fund the printing of a Jewish book. The project’s cost was completely beyond that person’s means. The man accepted and the Previous Rebbe blessed him. At that time (and only a Tzaddik can say this), it wasn’t only beyond the person’s bank account, it was beyond the blessings allocated to him from Above.
After that commitment, the man became wealthy and was able to pay for the entire printing.
Although we need to put in effort, it’s not about the hustling or great timing. It’s making a commitment to something bigger than yourself.
When you sincerely take on a financial responsibility for another person, project, or communal need, even when the math doesn’t add up, you aren’t just spending money irresponsibly, you are creating the channels through which G-d can send you more.
The Rebbe says “G-d makes it possible for that person to carry out their positive resolution and to do so amidst wealth and prosperity.”
The next time you’re tempted to say “I can’t afford to give right now”, maybe ask yourself: can I afford not to?
Wishing you a Shabbat full of blessing and abundance,
Rabbi Kushi Schusterman
P.S. what would you do to open your own new channels of blessing?