A חסיד came to get advice and a ברכה from רבי יחיאל מאיר of גוסטינין. The רבי heard that the man had lost his fortune and was struggling to reestablish himself. After he gave him his thoughts and his ברכה, the חסיד placed a donation on the table. “I’m sorry, I cannot accept it from you,” he said. “A person who owes money to others is not permitted to hand out נדבות. We learn this from the opening of שירת דבורה. It states בפרע פרעות בישראל – בהתנדב עם. It is only after a person redeems his חובות to his Jewish brothers that he is permitted להתנדב for the benefit of the עם.”
06/10/2021