The Power of Yearning to Give

For a 10% discount on Rabbi David Ashear's new book LIVING EMUNAH VOL 8 click the link below https://www.artscroll.com/Books/9781422644645.html Many people say, "If only I had a lot of money, I would help so many people. I would support yeshivot, fund chesed organizations, and provide for families in need." It's a beautiful sentiment that reflects a generous and noble heart. But often, this thought remains just that—a distant dream. In reality, a person does not need a lot of money to become a true baal tzedakah . If someone has a genuine desire to give, Hashem can open doors and make that desire a reality. A young mother raising several little children had no income. She noticed that many families in her building lacked toys, games, and books for their children. She sent a simple voice note to a group chat asking if anyone had toys in good condition to donate. Within a week, her hallway was filled with donations. She organized them into bins, labeled them, and opened her apartment one day a week for mothers to come and take toys for their children. No budget, no money—just heart and effort. Another young woman noticed that many families in her neighborhood were struggling to afford clothing for Yom Tov. Instead of just feeling bad, she decided to act. She received permission to use a high school gym on a Sunday, made flyers requesting donations of clean, gently used clothing, and organized volunteers to sort and set up. Families came to shop with dignity—free of charge. One man shared how Hashem gave him extraordinary siyata dishmaya to help people in large proportions. A few years ago, he was a bank clerk heading home when he noticed a flyer requesting furniture for a newly established beit midrash . They were seeking tables, chairs, and bookshelves and would appreciate any donation. He didn't think there was any way he could help, but he felt a strong desire to be involved. He tore off one of the tabs at the bottom with the contact number. The very next day, he arrived at work to find a carpenter dismantling his desk. The branch had just opened a month earlier and was furnished with upscale, elegant furniture. But management had decided it was too fancy and were replacing everything. The carpenter turned to him and asked, "Do you know anyone who might want this?" Suddenly, he remembered the flyer. He called the rabbi of the beit midrash and told him there was a huge amount of high-quality furniture available. They arranged a truck and were stunned by the quantity and beauty of the furniture. The beit midrash was now elegantly furnished, and the man was thrilled to have played a role in beautifying a house of Hashem. But that was only the beginning. His name was added to a list in the bank's construction department as someone who knew people and institutions that could use furniture. Just days later, the architect from another department called him: they were closing an entire floor in a Tel Aviv branch and needed someone to take the furniture. He didn't yet know who needed it—but he knew what to do. He called one yeshiva, then another. Two large trucks were dispatched to one yeshiva, and two more to another. Weeks later, another branch in Yerushalayim was closing, and again he arranged for the furniture to go to two more yeshivot. Over time, his number became well known. He helped dozens of institutions and families. Once, a yeshiva contacted him asking for 500 pieces of furniture. He had never dealt with such a quantity before but said he would try. Less than two months later, a carpenter from the bank called him—they were closing two large branches in Netanya and had 500 units of furniture available. He was able to fully furnish one of the larger yeshivot in the country. This man does not have wealth. But his yearning to give made him a shaliach to provide hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of furniture to yeshivot and organizations across the country. Everyone has what they need to be successful in avodat Hashem . The more we yearn to do good, the more siyata dishmaya we receive.