Rebbi Pinchas ben Yair that he never ate (Batza) a piece of bread that was not his." RASHI explains that this means that he never recited a blessing of ha'Motzi on bread that belonged to someone else, because he did not want to benefit from a k'Zayis of food of someone else.
My question is why is it such a good attribute not to accept gifts from others, if that is the case noone should give chesed or receive it. In fact those who give chesed are providing a stumbling block for a blind man?
Elliot Katz, New York, USA
1. In situations that involve obvious danger to life, Chazal rule that one is forbidden to refuse to accept Tzedakah.
2. Since there is no prohibition against accepting gifts from others, it cannot involve "placing a stumbling block before a blind man" if one does. That being the case, it is a Mitzvah to perform Chesed for a fellow-Jew; it is up to the latter to refuse if he seeks to attain a higher level of spiritual existence.
3. Finally, remember that the same Gemara cites Rebbi Zeira who would accept invitations because he felt that it was he who was performing the kindness with the person who invited him.
What emerges is that there is no hard and fast rule in these matters. It all depends on the person concerned and on the circumstances.
Kol Tuv,
Eliezer Chrysler