Be Reasonable

Day 236: Don't Give Away Too Much

Ah yes, the age-old question: is it better to give a lot of money to charity once in your life or to give a little bit of money many times throughout your life? Funnily enough, it's better to give the little bit throughout your life than a lot at once.

Rabbi Telushkin says that by giving so much money at once, you might be ignoring your own needs or those of your family. Getting rid of so much money might put you in a position where you don't have the things you need in order to take care of yourself.

Be careful and smart when it comes to giving. Give what you can and give often but don't strain yourself to give more than possible.

Day 237: Can a Religious Person Be Cruel?

I've actually thought a lot about this on my own. Religious people who are cruel or violent only become this way because their faith is strong. But religion is supposed to bring peace not only to you but also the world. Religion is generally supposed to spread love and brotherhood and yet here we are living in a world where we respect the beliefs of others yet we fear them too.

This is why the rabbi's answer to this question is that a religious person cannot be cruel, for if a person understood their religion, they would want to promote love between the parties. I take this with a grain of salt because I don't feel that I am in any position to strip someone of their faith or beliefs, .