Happy to Help

This afternoon, I had the privilege of helping a friend who recently moved to Florida find their spiritual footing. I picked up the phone, called a rabbi, and he answered right away—warm, generous, and eager to help. Naturally, he gave me the number of another rabbi, and when I called, he too picked up and was just as kind and welcoming.

What struck me most was the joy in their voices. They weren’t just willing to help—they were happy to help. And by being even a small part of that chain of kindness, my own spirits were lifted. It reminded me that the phrase “happy to help” isn’t just a courtesy—it’s a profound truth. Our greatest joy comes when we give, not when we take. It’s something we all know in our hearts, but need to be reminded of again and again.

This week’s Parsha teaches the mitzvah of “ma’aser”—tithing, giving a tenth of one’s income to charity. The Torah repeats the word in a way the Talmud understands as a promise: give a tithe, and you will be enriched. On one level, it’s about material blessings. But the commentators also bring Ben Zoma’s wisdom in Ethics of the Fathers: “Who is rich? The one who is happy with their portion.” Tithing, giving, leads to being happier with your portion.

And here’s the beauty—“your portion” can mean two things. It can mean what you’ve been given, the blessings that are yours. But it can also mean your portion in the bigger picture, the way you contribute to the world around you. True richness isn’t about what we hold in our hands—it’s about the joy of giving, of knowing we play a positive role in the lives of others.