Question: If I give a poor person a few dollars (whatever it is that I have available) and they ask for more, saying that what I gave is not ample, what is the proper response? Should I give them more? Should I walk away? Am I to feel guilty? Should they have any responsibility in that occurring? I know I am not supposed to embarrass them, but what whether they embarrass me?

Answer: Be polite and tell them that that what I have. You can walk away and should not feel guilty. How they should act is a question that should be posed by them to a Rabbi. Unfortunately, we often would like to base our responses on what the “other guy” should be doing. Our job is to distress about our own spirituality before the next guy’s, and to consider his physical needs before

our own. whether he embarrasses you, try to understand how desperate he must be.

All the best,

RYB

Original post by ATR

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