Our Gemara on Amud Aleph quotes a series clauses in the verses that discuss the process of bringing the tithes of produce to the Temple (Devarim 14:24-26):

וְכִֽי־יִרְבֶּ֨ה מִמְּךָ֜ הַדֶּ֗רֶךְ כִּ֣י לֹ֣א תוּכַל֮ שְׂאֵתוֹ֒ כִּֽי־יִרְחַ֤ק מִמְּךָ֙ הַמָּק֔וֹם אֲשֶׁ֤ר יִבְחַר֙ ה׳ אלקיך לָשׂ֥וּם שְׁמ֖וֹ שָׁ֑ם כִּ֥י יְבָרֶכְךָ֖ ה׳ אלקיך

Should the distance be too great for you, should you be unable to transport them, because the place where your God has chosen to establish the divine name is far from you and because your God has blessed you

וְנָתַתָּ֖ה בַּכָּ֑סֶף וְצַרְתָּ֤ הַכֶּ֙סֶף֙ בְּיָ֣דְךָ֔ וְהָֽלַכְתָּ֙ אֶל־הַמָּק֔וֹם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִבְחַ֛ר ה׳ אלוקיך בו

you may convert them into money. Wrap up the money and take it with you to the place that your God has chosen.

וְנָתַתָּ֣ה הַכֶּ֡סֶף בְּכֹל֩ אֲשֶׁר־תְּאַוֶּ֨ה נַפְשְׁךָ֜ בַּבָּקָ֣ר וּבַצֹּ֗אן וּבַיַּ֙יִן֙ וּבַשֵּׁכָ֔ר וּבְכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּֽשְׁאָלְךָ֖ נַפְשֶׁ֑ךָ וְאָכַ֣לְתָּ שָּׁ֗ם לִפְנֵי֙ ה׳ אלוקיך וְשָׂמַחְתָּ֖ אַתָּ֥ה וּבֵיתֶֽךָ׃

and spend the money on anything your soul desires — cattle, sheep, wine, or other intoxicant, or anything your soul may ask for. And you shall feast there, in the presence of your God.

The verse is interesting in that it discusses the wish to enjoy as both “ta’aveh” “desire” and “She’eylah” “wanting something”. The use of the word soul, also seems to hint at something deep and meaningful.

Noam Elimelech (Devarim Re’eh 4 and 6) interprets the Biblical reference to distance and desire as representative of a spiritual/emotional state. A person may feel far from God, and his soul may be suffering from “ta’aveh” that is a desire of a hedonistic kind.  The remedy is to commit his money to charity, and then his hedonistic desire will transform into a mere “want”. The soul will become refined and able to relate to physical needs and pleasures in a balanced manner, without being overcome.  This is represented in the gathering of the money, bringing it closer to God (Jerusalem), and then the switch from use of the word “desire” to the word “want”. 

Noam Elimeleh believed that generous giving would temper the pleasure seeking urges.  I wonder what is the operative principle of this effect.  Is it the act of kindness, or is it the renunciation of attachment to money, or is it both?  Many philanthropists are exceedingly generous. Does it affect them in the manner described by Noam Elimelech? I think that would depend on the principles above: If a renunciation of material goods is necessary, then one must “give until it hurts.” If it is due solely to acting kind, then the amount given is less important than the emotional connection and regard toward another person.

Regardless, it is known that appropriate sacrifice and focus on others’ needs brings contentment and happiness instead of frustration and deprivation.   According to social scientist Carole Pertofsky (as quoted in an article by Katie Shumake https://news.stanford.edu/report/2021/03/02/the-happiness-story/ )  :

We discover the meaningful life, sustainable long-term happiness, when we understand our core values as guides to discovering meaning and purpose by serving the greater good. Pertofsky points to a famous quote: “The purpose of life is to find your gifts, the work of life is to develop your gifts, the meaning of life is to give your gifts away.” Our values are our anchor, and when we express our values in how we serve others, self-doubts become less important than our purpose.

Translations Courtesy of Sefaria, except when, sometimes, I disagree with the translation

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