Gittin, Daf Zayin, Part 4

Introduction

As often happens in the Talmud, this source is here only because it is recited by the same rabbis who appeared above. The derashah here exhorts everyone to give tzedakah, not just the wealthy.

דָּרֵשׁ רַב עַוִּירָא זִימְנִין אָמַר לַהּ מִשְּׁמֵיהּ דְּרַב אַמֵּי וְזִימְנִין אָמַר לַהּ מִשְּׁמֵיהּ דְּרַב אַסִּי מַאי דִּכְתִיב כֹּה אָמַר ה׳ אִם שְׁלֵמִים וְכֵן רַבִּים וְכֵן נָגוֹזּוּ וְעָבָר וְגוֹ׳ אִם רוֹאֶה אָדָם שֶׁמְּזוֹנוֹתָיו מְצוּמְצָמִין יַעֲשֶׂה מֵהֶן צְדָקָה וְכׇל שֶׁכֵּן כְּשֶׁהֵן מְרוּבִּין

Rav Avira expounded, sometimes attributing it to Rav Ami and sometimes to Rav Asi: Thus says the Lord: Though they be in full strength [shelemim], and likewise many, even so shall they be cut down, and he shall pass away; [and though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more] (Nahum 1:12). If one sees that he has little food, he should use it for charity, all the more so if he has much food.

According to Rav Avira s midrashic reading of the verse, even if one has a limited amount of food, he should use it to feed those poorer than himself. All the more so if one has plentiful amounts of food.

מַאי וְכֵן נָגוֹזּוּ וְעָבַר תָּנָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל כָּל הַגּוֹזֵז מִנְּכָסָיו וְעוֹשֶׂה מֵהֶן צְדָקָה נִיצָּל מִדִּינָהּ שֶׁל גֵּיהִנָּם מָשָׁל לִשְׁתֵּי רְחֵילוֹת שֶׁהָיוּ עוֹבְרוֹת בְּמַיִם אַחַת גְּזוּזָה וְאַחַת אֵינָהּ גְּזוּזָה גְּזוּזָה עָבְרָה וְשֶׁאֵינָהּ גְּזוּזָה לֹא עָבְרָה

What does it mean even so shall they be cut down (nagozu)? The House of R. Yishmael taught: All who cut down (gozez) from their property and use it for tzedakah, are saved from the judgment of Gehinom. This is a parable to two sheep that were passing through water. One was shorn and one was not shorn. The one who was shorn, passes through, the one who was not does not pass through.

This section explains how the midrash works, i.e. how it is connected to the words of the verse. The word nagozu sounds like the word gozez which means to shear or cut down. One who cuts down his own property by giving tzedakah, shall pass through Gehinom and not suffer judgment. I think the parable here is exceedingly clever. Owning too many possessions bogs one down, causes one to sink in the mire, if you will.

וְעִנִּתִךְ אָמַר מָר זוּטְרָא אֲפִילּוּ עָנִי הַמִּתְפַּרְנֵס מִן הַצְּדָקָה יַעֲשֶׂה צְדָקָה

לֹא אַעֲנֵּךְ עוֹד תָּנֵי רַב יוֹסֵף שׁוּב אֵין מַרְאִין לוֹ סִימָנֵי עֲנִיּוּת

And though I have afflicted you (ve initikh): Mar Zutra [said]: Even a poor person being provided for from tzedakah, should give tzedakah. I will afflict you no more : Rav Yosef taught: He will no longer exhibit signs of poverty.

This again bolsters the midrash through a play on the root ענ"ה which can mean either to afflict or the poor. A poor person who gives tzedakah (charity) will no longer be poor.