347. Poverty (3)

If a person needs to accept charity from other people, he should not spend money on luxuries and nice clothes and pleasures, for they will say bad things about him and say that he does not need charity, and still takes. Especially if he has creditors, he should be extremely careful and guard himself from spending money and looking as if he is rich. It follows that even if he has the opportunity to buy an expensive item cheap, he should not do so, and if he did he should resell it and make a profit and not use it or wear it, so as not to trick others into suspecting him.

A man who does not find a way to make money, should occupy himself with learning Torah, for its business is better than that of money. In any case, even if he is very poor, and has many preoccupations, he should not withhold himself from praying with the congregation three times a day, as much as he is able. Each man is only obligated to do what he can, and the one who does more is equal to the one who does less so long as he intends everything for the sake of heaven. and he should work to increase the respect of his house and the peace in his house, and since there is no money in his pocket, he should make sure that his mouth and throat are sweet, and calm his wife down with a soft tongue, and make her happy with his words.

If it appears to him that he can find sustenance in another town, he should pick up his feet and travel from his land to wherever he finds, to seek for himself peace which will be good to enable him to serve Hashem. he should not be worried about leaving his hometown for all of this is negligible compared to the achievement of not having to wander for bread, and that he will be able to be relaxed to serve his Creator. He should pour out his heart before Hashem that He should help him to withstand the test, and prepare his sustenance for him.