Ah, Jews and money. When those two words are in the same sentence is liable to ruffle some feathers. Whether it’s because of the trope that portrays Jews as greedy and dishonest, such as was promulgated by famous authors Shakespeare and Charles Dickens. Or, let’s just get it over with, Hitler and Stalin. After all the blood libels and pogroms that began as a result of these tropes, it’s understandable why Jews do not appreciate the stereotype.
But what really is the Jewish relationship with money? Below is a list of Jewish quotes about money to shed some light on the subject.
(There is a lot of discussion about tzedakah below. For the uninitiated, in Judaism, donations, called tzedakah, are an obligatory part of Jewish living where the giver is not superior to the recipient.)
Jewish quotes about money
1) Financial advice
“Rabbi Yitzhak says, ‘One should always divide their money into thirds: one third for real estate, one third for business, and one third should be kept on-hand [liquid].'”
Bava Metzia 42a
2) Paying a day-wage worker on time
“Regarding the mitzvah to pay a day-worker on the day they work, it is important to be careful to pay them before the sun sets, while it is still definitely daytime.”
Ahavat Chesed 9:1
3) Lending money without interest
“It is a greater mitzvah to lend money [without interest] to a person in need than to give a donation since a loan doesn’t make the recipient as embarrassed…although if the recipient is completely impoverished, and is already accustomed to receiving donations, in that case, it is better to give it to them as a gift.”
Ahavat Chesed 1:1 and chap. 17
4) Avoiding tzedaka likened to idolatry
“Anyone who hides their eyes from giving tzedaka, it’s as if they worship idolatry.”
Ketubot 68a
5) Giving tzedakah bountifully
“Anyone who gives tzedakah bountifully – that is praiseworthy.”
Tanna Dvei Eliyahu Zuta 1:8
6) Transgressions due to money
“Most transgressions are caused as a result of a person getting worked up about money.”
Pele Yoetz, Kesef
7) Pre-determined income
“One should have a steadfast belief that is secured in their heart — similar to the way nails are secured to a wall — that their income has already been pre-determined from the Heavens…other than the money one spends on mitzvahs or good deeds which is not pre-determined.”
Pele Yoetz, Chapter Kesef
8) Gambling doesn’t improve civilization
“A person who gambles is not taking part in the human endeavor necessary to build, maintain, and improve civilization.”
cf. Rambam; see Gra on Ch”M 203
9) One who loves money
“One who loves money will never be satiated by money.”
Ecclesiastes 5:9
10) God lifts up
“God impoverishes and makes rich, disgraces and also lifts up.”
Shmuel 1 2:7
11) What one is asked after they die
“In the hour when a person is being judged [after he dies], he is asked, ‘Did you conduct business faithfully?’…”
Shabbat 31:1
12) Torah and flour
“If there is no flour, there is no Torah. If there is no Torah, there is no flour.”
Pirkei Avot 3:17
13) Torah with an occupation
“Torah learning is beautiful with an occupation – since exerting oneself in both of them makes sin forgotten.”
Pirkei Avot 2:2
14) What to focus on at work
“While at work, one’s intention should be to make money in order to give tzedaka to poor people who are genuinely honest.”
Rebbi Natan, Likutei Halachot 6: 8,27
15) Better than gold and silver
“Torah from Your mouth is better for me than thousands in gold and silver.”
Psalms 119:72
16) Ten percent
“You shall give ten percent of all of all of your seed crops that sprout forth from the fields each year.”
Deuteronomy 14:22
17) One who hates gifts
“A greedy person befouls his own household, but one who hates gifts will live.”
Proverbs 15:27
18) Tzedakah saves from death
“Tzedakah saves one from death.”
Proverbs 11:4
19) Tzedakah is great
“Tzedakah is great, for, since the day the world was created until now, the world stands on tzedakah.”
Tanna Dvei Eliyahu Zuta 1:8
20) Lack of money or lack of brains
Everyone complains about a lack of money, but none complain about a lack of brains.
Yiddish saying
Now your turn
Did we miss anything you’d like to have added? Do you have any money advice to share from experience or otherwise? Please leave your comments below…