Continuing where we left off that with regard to one’s wealth, income is not the only item determined on Rosh Hashana, but rather the person’s expenses are also determined at that time….

A story is told in the Talmud (Bava Basra 10a) of Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai, which illustrates down to the penny the precision of Hashem’s accounting. Rabbi Yochanan saw in a dream that his sister’s children were destined that year to lose the tremendous sum of 700 dinarim. To help them mitigate their loss, Rabbi Yochanan repeatedly approached his nephew for contributions to various charitable causes. He never told them the reason for his requests, and he never specified that he needed 700 dinarim. After an entire year of piecemeal contributions, the nephew’s total came to 683 dinarim.

When Erev Yom Kippur of the next year arrived, the nephews were arrested and imprisoned. Rabbi Yochanan visited them and reassured them, “Don’t worry. For another 17 dinarim you are going to be released.” Later that day, the officials came to demand 17 dinarim, and the family was released in time for Yom Kippur.

Understandably, the nephews were perplexed as to how their uncle knew the exact amount that would save them. When he told them about his dream, they protested that they certainly would have given the 700 dinarim had they known that was the amount required. Rabbi Yochanan replied that the dream could not have been disclosed, for then the nephew’s contributions would have been ransom, not charity. His chesed would have been for his own sake, not the sake of Heaven.

Furthermore, had the family known that 700 dinarim would save them from trouble, they would not have been exercising faith in Hashem each time they provided money for Rabbi Yochanan’s charities. They were spared 683 dinarim worth of difficulty because each of the 683 dinarim they gave away demonstrated their trust that Hashem would provide for them.

Even so, they were left with their 17 dinarim worth of difficulty. This illustrates a principle upon which a Jew lives. When troubles strike, a person must not believe that his giving has failed to protect him. He must recognize that all he has given has gone toward mitigating his current losses — losses that were etched into the year from the day it dawned. His charity has indeed protected him from the 683-dinar trial, even if he still has a 17-dinar obstacle to overcome. Every dollar he has expended was destined to leave his grasp. If he was wise in his spending, he has gained even from his loss. ~ Sefer Ahavas Chesed