Halakhah su Ecclesiaste 4:6

It is written in Ecclesiastes, “Better is a handful of quietness, than both the hands full of labor and striving after wind” (Eccl. 4:6). It is of satisfaction to their Creator that “a full hand” is better, i.e., when a man gives to the poor and the God-fearing who declined in their wealth; “than both the hands full,” i.e., to the poor that are not worthy but are filled with troublesomeness and bad spirit. Moreover, it is considered a sin on his part¹Baba Kamma 16b. if he gives to sinners, giving them the harlot’s hire (and) strengthening the cause of rebels in the world against the Holy One, blessed be He. Therefore a man should always pray that the Holy One, blessed be He, prepare for him worthy people.²The Zohar, ed. Soncino, I, 334. Another interpretation, “better is a handful of quiet” (is to give) charity with a good spirit and without anger, than “hands full” (of charity) which he gives grudgingly and with a bad heart, as it is written, “and thy heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him” (Deut. 15:10). Yet another interpretation, it is better for a man to support one person, if he has only enough to support one soul properly, than to give to five insufficiently. This results in “hands full of labor” because each one still lacks.³Peah 8:5. But if others are also contributing to each of these it is good for him to do likewise.⁴Maimonides, Commentary on Aboth, Chapter III, p. 15. Concerning this it is said, “He hath scattered abroad, he hath given to the needy” (Ps. 12:9).⁵Meaning to give to many poor. Erubin 63a. Even a poor man supported from charity must give to charity.⁶Gittin 7b. And each one according to his means, whether rich or poor, should feel himself beholden to the Holy One, blessed be He, in the sense of a rentier in the French, giving a penny, or (half-penny) half of this weekly (to charity).⁷The perutah was the smallest copper coin current See The Mishnah, trans. Herbert Danby (London: Oxford Press, 1949), p. 797. This should be a fixed rule and without deviation,⁸Baba Bathra 9a. to indicate that he is a servant of the Lord and that which he gives is a ransom for his soul.⁹Tosafoth, Pesahim 29b. Each penny adds to make up a great sum.¹⁰Baba Bathra 9b. The poor man who cannot give a great deal, should perform meritorious deeds with his body. The communal leader is not permitted to force the poor to contribute to charity,¹¹Midrash Rabbah, ed. Soncino, Leviticus, IV, 380. and he who does so is regarded as stealing (from them) for he steals from this one and gives to another.