Today, before leaving the house, I prepared a snack of cashews in a baggie to take along. I was sitting on the subway and, as happens periodically, someone announced that he was homeless and diabetic and hungry. Did we have anything to give him?
I don't give money because you don't know what they'll do with it. And I usually don't have anything else to offer. But this time, I had nuts. So I took out the baggie and when he came by, I asked - would you like these?
He gave a big "yeah!" and grinned and moved on. I was hoping everybody else saw whitey give him food, and if they were discerning, Jewish whitey, while most of his kinsmen gave him nothing. I feel that if someone says he's hungry, and you can feed him, then you do. I should have thought, but forgot, that I am emulating Hashem by providing the man with food.
I hope it made a Kiddush Hashem. I really missed my snack later in the day.
I would also rather give food than money.
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