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KOSHER DELIGHT - YOUR JEWISH ONLINE MAGAZINE!
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KD MAGAZINE!
ב"ה
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The Root of All Evil
By Rabbi Shea Hecht,
Posted: February 18, 09
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These days, the economy has center
stage. There's no major news story that does not carry with it
the smell of Wall Street, the real estate bubble, foreclosures,
government handouts or the like. Certainly, there can be no
headline more gripping that the one that speaks directly to our
wallets.
Money is the root of all evil, or so they say. The desire for
money is famous for turning honest men into thieves and cheats.
Money is credited with ruining many a personal or professional
partnership, for splitting families apart, for creating
questionable alliances and for motivating mankind to the vilest
deeds.
The recent whirlwind of corporate greed and mismanagement, Ponzi
schemes and stimulus pork create a very compelling body of
evidence for the filthy nature of the greenback.
I, however, think that money is getting a bad rap.
For all of its hazards it's true--and it's always been
true--that no stomach can be fed without money. No back can be
clothed or house built. All of humanity's advancement since the
use of fire--medicine, technology, transportation, industry,
architecture, science--they are all built on a foundation of
cold, hard cash.
In fact, nothing worthwhile in this world can be accomplished
without a bountiful, healthy cash flow. In fiscal 2007, 306
billion charitable dollars were donated in the US alone. These
ducats enabled medical and scientific research, advocated for
equality, sheltered the homeless, protected endangered wildlife
and other good deeds too numerous to mention. That’s what I call
a hard-working dollar…
Wanna see a cure for cancer? How about an alternative to fossil
fuels or an end to human trafficking? Well, you better dig deep,
‘cause it takes plenty of moolah to make it happen.
One thing I have learned during this financial crisis is that
wealth is neither good nor evil. It is a resource, and like any
resource it must be used wisely and conservatively. When we
channel our gelt in to something that is inherently positive and
worthwhile, it benefits the giver just as much as the recipient,
and in this way we harness the constructive, healing power of
money.
Is money the root of all evil? Okay. I’ll buy that. But there
should be no mistake that it’s also the source of all good.
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| Rabbi Shea Hecht
is the
Chairman of the
National Committee for
Furtherance of Jewish Education .
His web site is:
www.sheahecht.com |
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