Whose Money Is It? Printed with permission from "The Chesed Boomerang" by Jack Doueck www.judaicapress.com The Talmud (Ta-anit 24a) records that Rabbi Elazar of Bertota really practiced what he preached. Whenever “charity officials”, who were in charge of collecting and distributing funds for the poor, saw Rabbi Elazar of Bertota, they used to hide from him, because he would insist on giving them every bit of money he had with him. The Talmud (ibid) tells an incredible story. Rabbi Elazar of Bertota spotted the charity officials and took out all the money he was carrying and gave it to them – except one zuz (a small coin), which he used to buy wheat. The wheat which he then put in his store-room miraculously grew and filled the entire store-room, so much so, that it was bursting. After discovering this phenomenon, Rabbi Elazar of Bertota’s daughter excitedly ran to her father and told him: “Come and see what your good Friend (God) has done for you!” Return to 'Our Tradition' Menu