Money (mamon)

Money, also sometimes called mamon, damim, or ma'os, is a means of payment primarily used throughout history as coins and bills, serving as a medium of exchange for purchasing and paying for goods, labor services, and more.

According to halacha, in most Torah laws 'something worth money is like money itself' (shaveh kesef k'kesef), and any payment a person is required to make can be paid with an item of equivalent monetary value.

Many mitzvos are connected with money, including: tzedakah, ma'aser kesafim, pidyon haben and kiddushin, as well as mitzvos related to conducting business faithfully.

In Chassidic Teachings

In Chassidic teachings, it is explained that money's central role in human daily life is due to the high spiritual nitzotzos (sparks) contained within it. Proper use of money refines and clarifies these nitzotzos and elevates them to kedusha. Many letters in Igeres Hakodesh in the Tanya are dedicated to explaining the virtue of using money for tzedakah.

Not only is dealing with money not rejected, but moreover, there is a mitzvah to lend to a non-Jew with interest, since as long as it doesn't harm another Jew, a Jew should take every possible approach to accumulate as much money as possible, handle it properly, and thereby elevate as many nitzotzos of kedusha as possible.

Similarly, Chassidus explains Yosef's actions in gathering all the world's money during the years of famine - by doing so he helped the Jewish people clarify the many nitzotzos instead of having to wander and collect them from places they were scattered. Through gathering the money, most of the nitzotzos were collected, and the Jewish people extracted and redeemed them during Yetzias Mitzrayim. This is the reason the command to 'empty out' Egypt through 'borrowing' silver and gold is repeated multiple times in the Torah.

This is how Chassidus explains why Yaakov Avinu went back across the river at the crossing of Yabok and endangered himself to save small vessels left across the river - because tzaddikim cherish their possessions due to the nitzotzos contained within them.

This is also the reason for Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi's practice of honoring wealthy people, since the very fact that Hashem entrusted such great wealth and influence in their hands is a sign that they are fitting messengers for this.

In an unusual instance, the Rebbe said in a private yechidus regarding the Anim Zemiros niggun that although the Jew who gave away all his money to save another Jew achieved supreme spiritual pleasure, if the story had occurred after Chassidus was revealed, there is no doubt he would have chosen physical wealth as his reward, since the many possibilities contained in money surpass any reward of spiritual pleasure.

On another occasion, when the Rebbe visited Camp Gan Israel and saw a sign in the camp canteen saying "Money is the root of all evil - leave it here", the Rebbe rejected the sign's message and stated that money is not the root of all evil, rather it depends what one does with it.

Spiritual Money

The word 'kesef' (money) is also related to kisufim and longing, as it says "for you greatly longed for your father's house", "my soul yearns and pines", and in divine service money represents the soul's desire for G-dliness.

Chassidus explains that just as there is 'kinyan kesef' (acquisition through money) for people below, so too Hashem acquires Israel ("Hashem made five acquisitions in His world") through the money He gives them - and this money is the desire that Hashem implants in Jewish souls to cleave to G-dliness.

See Also

• Machatzis HaShekel
• Kesef (metal)
• Ashirus
• Tzedakah
• Dmei Chanukah
• Ma'os Chitim

External Links

• Money - An Inner Perspective, from the book 'People of the Word' (English)