Storing Up Treasures in Tosefta
By Pinchas Shir
The Tosefta is a rabbinic text that is, perhaps, less well-known than the Talmud or Midrash. There is a perfectly good explanation why. When the Mishnah (the first collection of Jewish oral traditions after the destruction of the Second Temple) was compiled into writing by Yehudah HaNasi in the third century CE, some ancient discussions were set aside and not included in the final redaction. Later, these discussions came to be known as Tosefta “additions,” a sort of appendix to Mishnah. Today, it is usually those who seek the broader context of the Mishnah’s sayings who venture into these ancient notes.
In a section of Tosefta devoted to the topic of charity, there is intriguing teaching on storing up treasures that are not of this world. The king of Adianbene, a son of Queen Helena, did something that applied to his contemporaries. But he was led so by the values of the Torah. There is some play of words in this passage. In Hebrew, the word for “charity” and “righteousness” is the same: צדקה (tsedekah). Early rabbis taught that the fruit of the Tree of Life was meant to bring about righteousness or charity (צדקה) and deeds of kindness (גמילת חסדים; gemilut hasadim). These matters are the very essence of the Torah.
There was an incident involving King Munbaz (Adiabene), who went and gave away all of his treasures [to the poor] in the years of drought, and his brothers said to him, "Your ancestors stored up treasures and added to those of their fathers, and you went and gave away all your treasures, and those of your fathers." He said to them, "My ancestors stored treasures below, but I stored treasures above, as it is written (Ps 85:12), 'Truth will spring out of the earth [and righteousness will look down from heaven].' My ancestors stored treasures in a place that a [human] hand can reach, but I stored treasures in a place that no hand can reach, as it says (Ps 89:15), 'Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne. My ancestors stored treasures that do not bear fruit (i.e., generate profit), but I stored treasures that do bear fruit, as it says (Isa 3:10), 'Say of the righteous, that it shall be well [with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their doings].' My ancestors stored treasures of money, whereas I am storing treasures of souls, as it says 'The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he that wins souls is wise’ (Prov 11:30). My ancestors stored treasures for others, whereas I am storing treasures for myself, as it says (Deut 24:13), 'And it shall be as righteousness to you before Hashem your God.’ My ancestors stored treasures for this world, whereas I am storing treasures for the world to come, as it says (Isa 58:8), 'And your righteousness shall go before you, [the glory of the Lord shall be your rearguard].'" Charity and kind deeds are as important as all commandments of the Torah. Charity (צדקה) applies to the living, and works of lovingkindness (גמילות חסדים; gemilut hasadim) apply to the living and the dead. Charity applies to the poor, and the works of lovingkindness apply to the poor and the rich. Charity is connected to money, the works of lovingkindness is connected to money and body. (Tosefta, Peah 4)
According to this teaching, those who bear the effects of the fruits from the Tree of Life are observing the core and the essence of the Torah, and they will be ushered into the world to come. Those familiar with the New Testament might compare this rabbinic passage to the Gospel of Matthew, in which Jesus speaks of storing treasures in heaven. (Matt 6:19-21). He also taught about the kingdom by comparing it to treasure (Matt 13:44). Storing intangible treasures in heaven is performing deeds of kindness to others.
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