last weeks parsha ekev tells us tha hashem doesnt take bribes. Rashi says b'momoin with money. The gemara berachos 28b says HKB"H doesnt take bribes of words or money. The Maharsha says that is talking about olam haboh but in olam hazeh he does take bribes, tefila with words tzedaka with money as it says tzedaka tatzil mimoves. my question is how is this a bribe, HKB"H dosnt need your tefila or tzedaka this is a chesed that the ribono shel olam does with us?
Mendy Kaplowitz, brooklyn, ny USA
The Gemara certainly does not mean that Hash-m would ever need money. Rashi in Eikev is merely pointing out this fact, that Hash-m cannot be "bought" by writing him a check. The Maharsha is saying that the effect that bribes have also have a parallel in observance of Mitzvos, as Hash-m will look favorably upon us if we do Mitzvos such as Tefilah and Tzedakah.
All the best,
Yaakov Montrose