Dear Reader sh’yichyeh:
Everybody is looking forward to Moshiach. For many it is for spiritual reasons, as the Rambam writes (Hilchos Melachim 12:4): “The Sages and the prophets did not yearn for the Messianic era in order to have dominion over the entire world, to rule over the gentiles, to be exalted by the nations, or to eat, drink, and celebrate. Rather, they desired to be free to involve themselves in Torah and wisdom without any pressures or disturbances, so that they would merit the World to Come.”
Yet for many it is the physical blessings of the Messianic era that increase our anticipation, as the Rambam (Ibid) continues: “In that era, there will be neither famine or war, envy or competition for good will flow in abundance and all the delights will be freely available as dust.” As the Gemara (K’subos 112b) relates: “R. Chiya bar Ashi stated in the name of Rav: In the time to come all the wild trees of the Land of Israel will bear fruit, for it is said in Scripture: ‘For the tree bear its fruit, the fig-tree and the vine do yield their strength.’”
Based on the above it is clear that there will be no needy people in the times of Moshiach as is prophesized, “There will be no poor among you.” If so, how will the Mitzva of Tz’daka and G’millus Chassadim, which is one of the three pillars on which the world rests (Avos 1:2), be done in the times of Moshiach?
Here are a few answers:
1) One of the three pillars is also “Avoda,” bringing Korbanos. In the time of exile, we fulfill the spiritual service of the Korbanos by learning about the details and laws of Korbanos. In the times of Moshiach, we will give Tz’daka by learning the laws of Tz’daka. (Chasam Sofer, Parshas B’Chukosai)
2) While there may not be physical charity, as B”H everyone will have what they need, the need for spiritual charity will remain. When it comes to learning and understanding Torah, there are always different levels of understanding in different people. When someone answers another’s question or clarifies a Halacha for him, then that is chesed as well. (Sicha Parshas Ki-Savo, 5749)
3) There will be physical chesed as well. Even though people will have what they need, people will lend each other money just to fulfill G’millus Chassadim. (Likkutei Sichos Vol. 24, pg. 317)
There is a beautiful story (Igros Kodesh of the Frierdike Rebbe, Vol. 7 pg. 164) that illustrates this point:
There was once a simple merchant named Yisroel who came to visit the third Lubavitcher Rebbe, known as the Tzemach Tzedek, for a Shabbos. That week the Rebbe said a deep Chassidic discourse. One of the points explained was that the chesed of Avraham Avinu was so great that it gave more pleasure to Hashem than chesed of Atzilus!
The simple Chassid went home and took this lesson to heart. That year he made a point of going around borrowing money from others, just to give them the Mitzva of lending money. When he returned to Lubavitch the next year, the Tzemach Tzedek commented to his son Reb Shmuel (the Rebbe Maharash) that he sees on R’ Yisroel’s head the light of Chesed of Atzilus!
Rabbi Avtzon is the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Lubavitch Cincinnati and a well sought after speaker and lecturer. Recordings of his in-depth shiurim on Inyanei Geula u’Moshiach can be accessed at http://www.ylcrecording.com.