She gives generously to the poor; Her hands are stretched out to the needy
The Midrash associates this pasuk with the widow of Tzarfas who provided sustenance for Eliyahu Hanavi. Eliyahu had declared a drought and spent the first part of it by the Brook of K’ris. He drank from its waters, and ravens provided him with food. When the brook dried up, Hashem commanded him to go to Tzarfas, to the home of a widow who would provide for him. Upon entering the city, he came upon a woman collecting twigs. Just like Eliezer, Avraham Avinu’s servant, he tested her to see if she was the one Hashem had chosen as his provider, and asked her for some water. Although there was a severe shortage in the land, the Navi tells us, “Vateilech lakachas” (Melachim 1 17:11), she went to bring water with a full heart.
Eliyahu Hanavi then asked her for bread. She responded that she had only enough bread for herself and her son; after eating it, they were going to die of hunger. The Alshich Hakadosh notes that she didn’t say that she couldn’t give him bread, and interprets her response to mean she was telling Eliyahu Hanavi that she’d prefer to give him the little bread she had and at least die after having done a mitzvah!
The Alshich learns many lessons about chesed from this story. One is that Hashem will always repay a person who gives to others. Eliyahu Hanavi promised her that her oil and flour wouldn’t run out. According to the Alshich, the jug of oil didn’t suddenly fill to the top and her store of flour didn’t increase. Rather, each day she used the little that she had, but the amount left remained the same. What faith she had in Eliyahu’s blessing.
The widow’s greatness lay in her willingness to help a complete stranger, even when she was in dire straits. Rav Nissan Alpert ztz”l observes that the expression “chesed v’emes” carries an important message, that we should first approach a potential opportunity to help with a desire to give. Only then can we assess the situation with the perspective of emes, to see what is actually needed. If you look at a person collecting money with the eyes of emes first, you’ll inevitably question their legitimacy. If you set out with the intention to help another, even if you need to be discerning, you will still give.
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