174. Rabbi Shimon opened the discussion by saying that he who rejoices on festivals, but does not give his portion to the Holy One, blessed be He, then that Evil Eye - Satan - shall hate and persecute him, and shall take him out of this world. And he will bring many miseries upon miseries.
175. The portion of the Holy One, blessed be He, is to make the poor happy, according to his ability. Because on these days, DURING FESTIVALS, the Holy One, blessed be He, comes to see all His broken vessels. He comes to see them, but then realizes that they have nothing to be happy ABOUT. And He weeps over them, before ascending back above, to destroy the world.
176. The members of the Yeshivah then stand before Him, saying, Master of the Universe, You are called gracious and merciful. So, apply Your mercy on Your children! He said to them: 'Have I not created the world based upon love?' As it is written, "For I have said, the world is built by love" (Tehilim 89:3). So the whole universe is established upon it. BUT IF THEY DO NOT LOVE THE POOR, THEN 'I SHALL DESTROY THE WORLD.' The heavenly angels then say to Him, Master of the Universe, there is a certain person who has eaten and drunk to his fill and could have been kind to the poor, but did not share with them anything! Then the "Accuser" comes and obtains permission to persecute that person.
177. Whom do we have in the world greater than Abraham, who had bestowed kindness on all living beings? Of the day that he prepared a feast, what is written? "And the child grew, and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the day that Issac was weaned" (Beresheet 21:8). So Abraham prepared a feast and invited all the leaders and important people of that generation to that feast. And we have learned that at every banquet, the 'Accuser' wanders about, observing if each person first dispenses charity to the poor. If there are any poor people in his house, then he (the "Accuser") leaves that house and does not enter. But if there are not, THE 'ACCUSER' enters that house. If he sees the merrymaking without the poor and without having first dispensed charity to the poor, he ascends above and brings accusations against him.
178. When Abraham summoned all the great leaders of that generation, the 'Accuser' descended and stood at the door disguised as a poor man. And nobody paid any attention to him. Abraham was attending the kings and the noble men. Sarah suckled all their children because they did not believe that she had born a child, but rather claimed that ISSAC was a foundling whom they picked up from the marketplace. This is why they brought their children with them, so that Sarah could take them and nurse them in front of their parents. As it is written: "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children?" (Beresheet 21:7). IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN WRITTEN, 'WOULD NURSE A CHILD?' NEVERTHELESS, there is no doubt that it should be 'children,' REFERRING TO THE CHILDREN OF ALL THE GUESTS. And that 'Accuser' was STANDING at the door. Sarah said: "Elohim made laughter for me!" (Ibid. 6). So immediately the 'Accuser' went up and stood before the Holy One, blessed be He, and said to Him, "O Master of the Universe, You have said, 'Abraham is the one who loves Me,' and here he prepared a feast but did not give anything to You or to the poor. He did not sacrifice even one pigeon before. And furthermore, Sarah claims that You have mocked her!"
179. The Holy One, blessed be He, replies: 'Who in the world can be compared to Abraham?' But THE 'ACCUSER' did not leave the place until he had spoiled the entire feast. So the Holy One, blessed be He, decreed that Issac should be given as an offering, and Sarah was destined to die from anguish because of her son. All of this distress was caused because he did not offer anything to the poor!