A Short Tribute

“She gives generously to the poor; Her hands are stretched out to the needy”. The differentiation between ‘poor’ and ‘needy’ is known; poor refers to someone who has never in his life seen “lights” [money] while a needy person is one who was once wealthy but has since lost his fortune. The latter is familiar with the taste of all things and feels cravings, and is therefore modest and embarrassed to take even a little charity, all the more so publicly.
That is the meaning of “She gives generously to the poor; Her hands are sent out to the needy” – she is punctilious when giving charity. When it concerns a poor person, who was born poor and does not care – she gives charity overtly, even if only a small amount. However, concerning the needy person, who is modest about his poverty and has cravings, it says “Her hands are stretched out to the needy”, meaning that she gives him a portion worthy of being taken with two hands; "stretched" [also means 'sent'] implies that she gives in a modest way and sends him on his way. Such a woman, who is so precise in her action, “…is not worried for her household because of snow”.