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Urei Betuv Yerushalayim
The Rich Beggar
by Yonina Hall
The streets of Yerushalayim, normally bursting with life and
activity, were strangely still. Giant, freshly-plastered
notices glared from stone walls while darkened shop windows
gazed at the reflection of thousands upon thousands of people
standing in every available space in the street and sidewalk.
That morning the news had reached the disbelieving ears of a
nation that a gadol b'Yisrael had passed away. Now, in
a solemn assembly that stretched as far as the eye could see,
they came to honor him.
As the tear-choked eulogies were broadcast via loudspeaker to
the massive gathering and every ear strained to hear words
that were a zechus for the niftar as well as an
inspiration for one's own avodas Hashem, several men
were doing more than listening.
"Tzedaka tatzil mimaves. Tzedaka tatzil mimaves," two
men wailed in the same block, working the huge crowd from
opposite ends of the street. Moved by the scene and the
import of the words, generous hands thrust into pockets and
pressed coins into outstretched palms. "Tzedaka tatzil
mimaves. Tzedaka tatzil mimaves," the beggars
repeated again and again. Though each bystander had no more
than a few centimeters in which to stand, each swayed to the
side to let the collectors pass.
When they met in the middle of the street, the difference
between the two men, who looked and sounded alike, suddenly
became obvious. Both were dressed shabbily and appeared quite
needy, but one had been favored by the crowd more than the
other. So many people had given him donations, in fact, that
both his hands and pockets were bulging with coins. The
second one had been much less successful; his pockets hung
loosely at his sides and his expression was grim. Without a
word, the "richer" one reached into his pocket, brought out a
handful of coins and deposited it into the other's palm. The
recipient looked surprised. The giver looked pleased.
"Tzedaka tatzil mimaves. Tzedaka tatzil mimaves," each
resumed his mournful chant, blending back into the huge crowd
to bring more merits to all the people at an afternoon
levaya in Yerushalayim.
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