“Rahim? You collect money from him?”

The holy rabbi nodded. “He’s one of my most generous contributors.”

The holy rabbi had taken upon himself the difficult task of collecting money for those in need. From village to village, from house to house, he hiked, asking for donations. Now he was sitting, enjoying a rare moment of rest in the home of Simcha, a prominent merchant in the Jewish community.

Simcha asked the holy rabbi, “Do you know that Rahim is not Jewish?”

The holy rabbi stared at the merchant. He knew that Rahim was a well-to-do businessman who often gave him large sums of money for charity, was not a religious Jewish person. That was no problem, indeed the holy rabbi rejoiced in the opportunity to give a non-observant Jewish person the merit of such a great mitzvah. Involving a non-Jewish merchant and collecting charity was entirely different, raising many questions and problems into an already very sensitive and complicated community.

Holy rabbi had no idea that Rahim was not Jewish. Now that he’d found out, he decided he would no longer stop at the wealthy merchants shop. Better to stay away then to become involved in some type of misunderstanding or worse scandal.

Some weeks went by since the holy rabbi’s visit, when there was a rapping on Simcha’s door. The angry words of Rahim and the pounding on the door echoed throughout the house.

The feeling of uneasiness, Simcha slowly open the door. His neighbor, Rahim, stood in front of him, his face red and his eyes flashing.

“I will not have it, I will tell you!” He shouted. “What right did you have to interfere in my business?”

Startled, puzzled, and very frightened, Simcha stared at his angry neighbor. “What in the world are you talking about?”

“The holy rabbi! Why did you tell him to stop taking my money?” His fists clenched, Rahim gave Simcha an ultimatum: “get the holy rabbi to come back, or else!”

When the holy rabbi came the Simcha’s house a short time later, the frightened Simcha told him about the strange meeting with Rahim and begged him to return to Rahim’s shop. Realizing that not visiting the non-Jewish merchant would create more problems for him, the holy rabbi agreed, and once again Rahim became a regular donor.

Many months later, when peace had been restored between the two neighbors, Simcha found the courage to ask Rahim why he’s been so angry that the holy rabbi was not visiting. “Why is it so important to you to give money to Jewish charities?”

“Is it not written in you holy books that when the Master of All Blessings told Abraham to take his only son to a holy place that he answered: “Both are only sons – Isaac  is the only son I have from his mother, and Ishmael is the only son I have from her who is his mother.”

G-d: “The son whom you love,”

Abraham: “Master of the Universe, are there separate compartments in one’s inmost self for love? I love both of them.” (Sanhedrin 89b, Tanhuma, Va-yera, 22)

You denied me a special privilege and holy deed,” Rahim replied. “Divided as we may be by religion, we are united by charity. From the time I began giving money to the holy rabbi my business prospered, and once he stopped coming. Blessings upon my house and business stopped. If matters in my house and business are to succeed,” he handed, “I need the holy rabbi to help by accepting the charity I can give.”

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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