Vayikra Rabbah 34:2

Rabbi Phinehas in the name of Rabbi Reuban said: whoever gives a perutah (small coin) to a poor man, the Holy One, Blessed be He will give him life. For, indeed, is he really giving only a perutah? No he gives him life! How can we explain this? If a loaf of bread costs 10 perutot and a poor man standing in the marketplace has only nine, then is someone gives him a perutah so that he is able to buy a loaf of bread and having eaten it, feels refreshed, the Holy One Blessed be He, says to the donor, ‘In your case too, when your soul presses to break loose from your body, I shall return it to you.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email