Just Charity: Abraham’s Vision for a Better World

In the Talmud, we find a compelling ethical dilemma: “If two people are walking on a desolate path and there is a jug of water in the possession of one, if both drink, both will die, but if only one of them drinks, he will survive.”

The ruling follows Rabbi Akiva’s teaching: “And your brother shall live with you,” emphasizing that one’s own life takes precedence over another’s.

The first Lubavitcher Rebbe offers an illuminating insight: the principle applies specifically to a single jug of water—what one truly needs for survival. Anything beyond that is considered “excess,” which one is then obligated to share with someone whose survival depends on it.

In this week’s Torah portion, we encounter our patriarch Abraham, whom the Midrash describes as the embodiment of kindness. What distinguishes Abraham in the annals of history, however, is not only his kindness but the extraordinary sacrifices he was willing to make to help others.

The Torah explains that G-d chose Abraham as the first Jew because he instilled these values in his descendants. The verse describes his legacy as one of “charity and justice.” The Lubavitcher Rebbe elaborates that Abraham’s kindness was not mere “token charity.” It was a just charity, rooted in a profound self-awareness: distinguishing between what one truly needs for oneself and one’s family and what falls into the category of excess.

As Jews, the defining ethos of our identity is sacrifice. This concept runs counter to secular thinking and defies natural instincts. Yet it is the secret to our survival.

When we make sacrifices to assist those in genuine need, we align ourselves with timeless values, embedding them within our lives and communities. It is this spirit of selflessness that connects us as a vital link in the unbroken chain between past and future.