You Shall Tithe, Then You Will Become Rich

Lesson from weekly Torah reading: Parashat Re'eh (Deut 11:26-16:17)

עַשֵׂר תְעַשֵׂר - You shall tithe... (Deut 14:22)

Midrash Tanchuma comments that the second part of this compound verb can be read תְעַשֵׁר you will become rich. Thus the Torah teaches if you give tithes, you will become rich, in complete contradiction to those who claim that they can not contribute to charity because they are afraid of becoming poor. This same concept - that tithing will increase the giver's wealth, not decrease it - is found elsewhere in Scripture: G-d says: Bring the tithe into the storehouse... and test Me now with this, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out of blessing upon you (Malachi 3:10).

Source: Artscroll Chumash