During these difficult times, when people are facing financial hardships, as well as many other challenges, it is perhaps worthwhile to explore the words of Hakham Yosef Hayyim 'a"h.
Even though his words were recorded over 100 years ago, we can all relate to them today. This is true, even though certain circumstances are different today. For instance, it is very common that both husband and wife need to work today, whereas 100 years ago, the wife depended exclusively on the husband.
He says that a woman who is fortunate to have a generous husband, who does not withhold anything from the needs of the household, must be sensitive to the value of even a piece of vegetable, a small quantity of food, or a bit of a drink. She must be careful not to waste them unnecessarily just because he is generous. The Ben Ish Hai goes on to speak about instances that we may find incomprehensible. It is, perhaps, worthwhile to spend a minute thinking about them. It may serve as an eye-opener and give us an indication of how far we have gone .
He speaks figuratively, about a person who found some apples and other fruit in the garbage. He was asking how these items found their way into the garbage, and was told that they were not important enough in the eyes of their owner and were discarded
I wonder what this person would say today, if he passed by homes that have many items, from furniture to electronic items, in excellent condition, waiting at the curb for the garbage truck to pick them up. Just because we are blessed with the means to buy new items, does not mean that we should discard that which has value.
An additional practical piece of advice that the Ben Ish Hai shares with his readers is to work according to a plan, thereby eliminating any possible waste. One example he gives is of women who can cook seven types of tasty and delicious dishes out of just two pounds of meat. Whereas there are those who would cook four pounds of meat -- but the outcome would not be appealing even to a hungry man. If we are organized and plan ahead, we can not only avoid waste, but can make what we have more meaningful.
My dear friends, I think there is a message here that we cannot ignore. Thank G-d, many of us do not experience, and I pray never will, real poverty. However, no matter what our financial situation is, we must develop sensitivity to appreciate what we have, avoid waste at all cost, and always be grateful for what we have. There are many who have a lot less than we do.
