Books - especially Jewish holy books - are my passion. That's why I opened Kalcom Publishing. And guess what - with Hashem's help, Kalcom Publishing is going to revolutionize the industry of "Sifrei Kodesh". Stick with Kalcom...The famous passage in the Gemarra, tractate Shabbat 31a, states that the first question the Heavenly Court asks a person when he or she finishes their tour of duty on this earth is, "Did you negotiate in faith?"
Most people limit themselves to the face-value interpretation that the above Gemarra is talking about honesty in business; it is. Yet, according to our great and holy sage, the father of Kabbala Rabbi Yitzchak Ashkenazi Luria of blessed and holy memory, the Gemarra is speaking about negotiating in faith with Hashem.
What is negotiating in faith with Hashem? Our sages say that it's giving a minimum of 10% to charity (maaser), or better yet 20% (khomesh). Any simpleton should be able to understand that Hashem is more than willing to give a person a million bucks if that person is willing to give $100,000 - $200,000 to charity. That's faith.
The RAMBAM (Maimonides),zchouto taken aleinou,AMEN! says "LEOLAM EIN HA-ADAM ME-ANI MIN HATZEDAKA! (a person can NEVER get poor from giving out LOTS of TZEDAKA (charity). can see this & lots more in HILKHOT matnot aaniim,chapter 10).
The Chafetz Chaim adds that if a person is a really high roller, then he can go as high as 90% to charity. Yet, most people are too greedy to be satisfied with $100 million in their pockets if Hashem would give them a $billion.
Lots of people make big bucks, but lose 'em to. The people that see blessings from big bucks are the people that give big bucks.(LIKE Harav Moshe Yosef Ben RIVKA Shlit"a,may hashem send him REFUAH SHLEMA,and out of the Toronto hospital!),not the little dimwitted nouveau-richers that complain that they can't afford the rabbi's salary,great sfarim or cd's,but can buy a tie for $250.
more about that later...