Double Your Gain: The Quick Way to Protect Your Wealth and Earn Rewards

Daily Quote

"If Hashem grants a person goodness, he should always fear that he will consume his reward in this world, and he should always say, 'I am unworthy of all the kindnesses,' so that his merits are not diminished and so his possessions are preserved, as our sages said (Ketubot 66b), 'Salt (preservation) of money is loss (charity).' Do many acts of kindness with the blessings that Hashem has given you in your body, wealth, homes, wisdom, and more, and thus the righteous will receive their due in this world, and their reward will be complete." (Pele Yoetz, entry "Lack").

Meaning of the Quote

Pele Yoetz (book of Jewish ethics) describes how a person should behave when Hashem bestows goodness upon him.

When a person receives blessings from Hashem, he must always remember that he is not inherently deserving of them. He should say, "I am unworthy of all the kindnesses" (Genesis 32:11), acknowledging that Hashem's blessings are great mercies beyond his merits, and he must therefore live humbly in the face of divine influence.

The person should fear that the good he receives in this world might reduce his reward in the world to come, as if he "consumed" his rewards here and left none for the future. This drives the person to stay close to Hashem and avoid arrogance or reliance on material goodness alone.

To prevent his assets from diminishing his merits, he should act as our sages said: "Salt of money is loss" (Ketubot 66b). That is, the way to preserve wealth and protect it is through giving and charity. Giving to others not only protects his property but also elevates him spiritually and brings him closer to Hashem.

All that Hashem grants a person is for him to use them to perform acts of goodness and kindness. When a person uses the blessings received from Hashem for the benefit of others, he fulfills his purpose in the world and also brings blessing upon himself. By investing his wealth and efforts in good deeds, he earns rewards both in this world and the next.

The Pele Yoetz teaches us to act with humility, recognize Hashem's goodness, and perform kindness with what Hashem has granted us. Instead of viewing material blessings as personal gain, we should use them as tools for doing good in the world. In this way, we not only gain spiritual strength but also safeguard what we have received.

A Few Words About the Author

Rabbi Eliezer ben Rabbi Yitzhak Papo passed away in 1827 (1786 – October 11, 1827). He was a renowned halachic authority and kabbalist and authored several books, the most famous being the ethical work "Pele Yoetz," which gave him the nickname "Pele Yoetz." Rabbi Papo served as the rabbi of the Sephardic community in Silistra, Bulgaria, and later as the head of the Sephardic community in Bucharest, the capital of Wallachia. Among his other works are "Elef HaMagein," "Chesed Laalafim," and "Beit Tefillah."