עקר היראה והצדקות הוא בממוןPiety Tested in Money

ikkar ha-yirah ve-ha-tzidkut hu be-mamonIn Gamatria ↗

Watch his hands with money, not his length of prayer.

The Sages warn against hypocrites who act like Zimri and ask Pinchas's reward. A man may pray all day in tallit and tefillin, and you cannot see his heart. Kaidanover brings a story from the Pesikta Rabbati. A rich, pious man bound for the Land of Israel leaves his treasure with R. Alexander, whom he saw praying at length. On his return Alexander denies ever meeting him. The man weeps in the synagogue, and Elijah gives him two signs for the wife: her husband ate leaven on Passover and ate on Yom Kippur morning. She returns the deposit. A second story tells of a dying father who warns his son against the showily pious; the son's modest wife and a tender-hearted priest both prove false. The rule: whoever deals honestly and wants nothing of another's money is truly righteous.

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