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refraining from giving charity to the poor, for every beggar is possibly 5. What if a patient promises not to drive, and one recognizes that
an imposter). he means it? If his visual acuity is 6/15, then since this is merely
The Gemara continues by saying that if a man pretends to have a safeguarding of public rights, the doctor is allowed to remain
a blind eye, a swollen belly or a shrunken leg, he will not leave this silent. If his visual acuity is 6/30, and maybe even if it is 6/21,
world before actually suffering from such a condition. Someone who the physician should not rely on the patient’s promises. Since
receives charity although he does not truly need it will not leave this the driver’s license in his hand poses a definite danger to the
world before he truly becomes needy of charity. public, here the injunction of “Do not stand idly by the blood of
The words of the Gemara, “Let us give thanks to imposters,” come your fellowman” applies.
to teach us that we should not decry beggars who pose as ill, for they
save the world from the judgment of Gehenna.
However, in maseches Bava Kamma it is related that Yirmiyahu
said to the Hashem: “Master of the Universe, even when the wicked
people of Anasos give charity they are fooled by unsavory people so
they should not receive reward.” The Nimukei Yosef (p. 6 in the pages
of the Rif) explains that one does not receive reward for charity if one
knows, while giving it, that the beggar is an imposter. If the giver is
unaware that the beggar is an imposter, he still receives reward because
his intent was to do a mitzvah. He explains that if this were not so,
then people would refrain from giving charity to decent and honest
people if they don’t know them. The story of Rebbi (maseches Bava
Basra 8a) supports this because later it concludes with the words “All
will enter [Heaven].”
(See also Sefer Chassidim #61 and #318 and in Mekor Chessed, Com-
mentary on Sefer Chassidim.)
It says (Bereishis 26:12): “And Yitzchak sowed that land and found
in the same year a hundredfold and Hashem blessed him.” The Sages
explain (maseches Bava Kamma 17a) that “sowing” refers to giving
charity. Why is charity called sowing? The answer given in the Ape-
rion is that it is known from farmers that from every grain (seed) of
wheat arise a number of sheaves and in every sheaf there are about
twenty grains. According to this calculation it seems that from every
kav of wheat, approximately 100 kabbim will grow. But, we see that
it is not so, and only about 10 kabbim grow. The reason for this is
that not every seed manages to grow. Most rot in the earth, and only
a small minority sprout and grow. Likewise, when one gives charity,

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