Putting Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

When you’re in love, you act fast. It isn’t enough to arrive at a date on time, you rush out of the house and arrive five minutes early. It isn’t enough to buy her flowers, only flowers and chocolates will do. It’s not just about speed, it’s about generosity. When you’re in love, nothing but the best will do.

Avraham Avinu (Abraham our Patriarch) was in love with the Almighty. It wasn’t enough for him to do what the Almighty had commanded; he had to do it right away. For example, when the Almighty told him to “Go for yourself from your land, from your relatives, and from your father’s house to the land that I will show you” (Genesis 12:1), Avraham didn’t just say yes. Avraham “went as HaShem had spoken to him” (ibid 12:4) – immediately, without delay.

Or take the time when three angels appeared at his doorstep, or tent-flap as it were, disguised as three Arab travelers. Inviting them into his home as guests, Avraham “ran toward them from the entrance of the tent…hastened to the tent…ran to the cattle…” and “hurried to prepare it” (ibid 18:2-7). Not what you would call a slouch.

When the Almighty had to command Avraham to listen to his wife Sara in regards to the abuse her son Yitzchak (Isaac) was undergoing at the hands of his half-brother Yishmael (Ishmael) and send away the mother and child, Avraham “awoke early in the morning, took bread and a skin of water, and gave them to Hagar…and sent her off” (ibid 21:14). Right away.

Even the greatest challenge of all did not fell the powerful love and dedication Avraham maintained towards the Almighty. When commanded to take his beloved son Yitzchak and bind him for an offering on Mount Moriah, Avraham did not hesitate for a moment. “So Avraham awoke early in the morning and he saddled his donkey…” When you’re in love, you act fast.

The quality of alacrity, willing promptness, has characterized the behavior of all the righteous men and women of our nation. The honored place this character trait occupies in the discussions of our sages indicates its importance as the foundation stone for many other fine qualities. A key to unlocking the true potential of man, the author of the Orchos Tzaddikim wrote that “the quality of alacrity is a beautification of all the character traits”.

Beginning with Avraham, we have had many role models throughout the generations of what it looks like to behave like a man in love. Behaving with alacrity serves as the basis for all divine service. It begins with putting your money where your mouth is.

Which may be why our sages determined that “the place where the scriptures most need to spur man to alacrity is the place where it discusses financial expenditure”. Commentaries explain that this statement refers to the korban olah commanded at the beginning of Parashas Tzav. While many offerings were eaten after being roasted on the altar, the korban olah involved an offering that was to be entirely consumed.

Financial loss is where a lot of people draw the line. Love and dedication to the Almighty are terrific as long as they don’t cost too much. The Almighty created man in such a way that a connection exists between him and his physical possessions. Parting with those possessions is not easy and many otherwise fine people have a very difficult time doing so. But that’s not dedication and that’s not love.  

After all, let’s reframe the situation. For a man in love, not only is financial loss perfectly acceptable when it comes to his Beloved, but to him, such expenditure does not seem like a loss at all. What is gained by spending money for the one he loves is so great that whatever sum such gain requires appears paltry. This is particularly true in regards to bringing a korban.  The relationship strengthened between the Almighty and His creations through korbanos brings an abundance of blessing to the entire world.

Alacrity has been a part of our national character since Sinai when we imitated the angels in declaring, “We will do and we will hear!” Angels, messengers of the Almighty, act on His will without delay. The alacrity we showed in our passion to serve our Beloved at Sinai can continue to serve as our template for divine service throughout the generations. So what are you waiting for? He’s here, you’re here – go do a mitzvah, the time is now.