Jewish World Review Nov. 21, 2008 / 23 Mar-Cheshvan 5769

Money matters ...

By Rabbi A. Henach Leibowitz

Or does it? Wise words to consider during trying times

“And Abraham weighed out to Ephron the silver ... four hundred shekels of silver ... .”

                        —   Genesis 23:16

After Sarah passed away, Abraham came to Ephron to purchase a burial plot. According to the Ramban (ibid., 23:9), Ephron quoted Abraham an exorbitant price, knowing that Abraham had no choice but to accept his terms.

The Ramban tells us that Abraham, with the "generosity of his heart," paid Ephron the entire sum. In what way was generosity involved? This was a business deal. Ephron was the only one who had what Abraham needed, and his price reflected that exclusivity. If Abraham wanted to bury Sarah in Ephron's field, he had no choice but to pay the price. Was Abraham really being generous?

Abraham's generosity was expressed in the manner in which he paid for this expensive purchase. He knew that the proper burial ground for Sarah was in the Cave of Machpelah, alongside Adam and Eve, and once he determined that this transaction was necessary, he did it wholeheartedly and joyously. The fact that Ephron was extorting an outlandish price and making an unreasonable profit did not affect Abraham's feelings.

Very often people determine that a certain purchase is proper, essential, and even profitable. Yet, because they cannot bear to part with their money, they choose to manage without it. Some times the price may be within reach, but they cannot bear the thought of someone else making a large profit from them. Abraham, however, was unaffected by this small-mindedness. He gave the money to Ephron with a full heart.

Abraham's actions shed light on the proper attitude we must have toward money. Perhaps if we have a clearer understanding of this outlook, it will help us through economically trying times. Money is a gift from the Divine to be used to fulfill His bidding ( mitzvos) ; therefore it cannot be frivolously spent nor should we withhold spending it when necessary.

The Chazon Ish (Rabbi Avrohom Yeshaya Karelitz, 1878-1953) once said that if we decide that it is necessary to buy an object, we should part with a million dollars as easily as with one dollar. Similarly, we should be as careful not to lose one dollar (which could later be used to perform a mitzvah) as we are careful not to lose many. We see this philosophy exemplified in the actions of the forefather Jacob.

In one instance, when Jacoby first met Rachel, he was absolutely penniless because he had voluntarily given away his every possession to Esau's son, Elifaz (Rashi, ibid., 29:11). On the other hand, he retraced his steps to retrieve inexpensive pottery vessels (Rashi, Genesis 32:25).

Our financial resources do not have intrinsic importance and our success in life is not to be measured by the amount we have accumulated in our bank accounts. The value of material wealth is in the deeds it enables us to perform, and it must be viewed in that context. If we lose the perspective that money is only a means to the greater end of serving the Divine and we fall in love with money for its own sake, we will drive ourselves into a life of misery and dissatisfaction.

We will never have enough, as our desires constantly outstrip our wealth. If, however, we stay objectively detached from money, we will remain a master over it and will not be enslaved by its entrapments. Our lives will be focused on the incomparable glory and beauty of the Divine's Word and our duties.