A koan for a cohen: If a coin falls into the pushke, but no one hears it, who will it help?
The giving of tzedakah, charity, is a deeply beloved blessing among Jews throughout time and space. Here are some of my photos of charity collection boxes from recent trips to Israel, Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam and (the last) from Tony Berlant of Venice CA. In Israel they are as ubiquitous as parking meters near UCLA campus in Los Angeles and police call boxes in New York City. Likewise, small versions made of everything from tin / aluminum and plastic to origami paper folds, can often be found next to cash registers throughout Jewish neighborhoods.
Doing a good deed by donating to charity is an obligation, a mitzvah. It helps the donor as well as the designated person(s)-in-need. Please take my money.
Now here’s the catch … It must be done with the right hand … even if, as I am, left-handed. Deep teaching comes form Rabbi David Sperling who reminds us of a verse in Tehilim (118,15) that “”God’s right hand does valiantly.” Here is one thing that the Sephardim who follow kabbalistic teaching and Ashkenazim who follow their rebbes agree.
Here’s the bottom line: "Ben Ish Hai (Parshat Vayigash, 13) adds that the coin represents the letter yod, the right hand the letter hey (because the five fingers are equal to the numeric value of the letter hey, 5), the arm the letter vav, which is stretched out like a vav, and the left hand of the receiver another letter hey - together the letters of Hashem's name.
Stay tuned for more images of donation boxes from Japan.
