By Leibel Estrin
Often, Tzedokah is translated as “charity.” But its true meaning is “righteousness.” The less fortunate deserve help and the Torah commands us to provide it.
The mitzvah to help those in need (typically, the poor) is found twice in the Torah. Vayikra 25:35 states, “And if your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself then you shall assist him, both the stranger and/or sojourner (in order) that he live with you.”
The mitzvah is also found in Devorim, 15:7-10, “If there be among you a needy man, any one of your brethren within any of your gates in the land that the L-rd your G-d gives you; you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand in the face of your needy brother. But you shall open wide your hand to him, and shall surely lend him sufficient for his need….”
Interestingly, the Hebrew word meaning “to give” is nosain. It is spelled the same way backwards and forwards. According to our sages, this teaches us that the one who gives also receives.
Abraham was the first person to donate 10% of his wealth to tzedokah. This is one reason that Maimonides writes (Hilchos Matanos Aniyim 10:1), “We must be careful to fulfill the mitzvah of tzedokah more than any of the other positive commandments, for tzedokah is a sign of a righteous person, the trademark of Abraham’s children…”
Maimonides lists eight levels of tzedakah, starting from the highest and most praiseworthy:
- Helping a person find work or learn a trade
- Giving secretly to someone you don’t know
- Giving secretly to someone you do know
- The giver doesn’t know who received, but the receiver knows who gave
- Giving before you were asked
- Giving after you were asked
- Giving, but not as much as you can afford
- Giving against your will
The Torah provides a number of different ways to give tzedokah. They include providing food or clothing to the poor, helping a needy bride and groom, and offering hospitality to strangers. If you don’t have money, you can give tzedokah spiritually by helping others learn about their Jewish heritage. According to Rabbi Levi (Vayikra Rabba 24), “If you don’t have anything to give him, comfort him at least with consoling words.”
The Talmud (Bava Batra 9) states that tzedokah outweighs all other commandments. It is so great that it is called “the mitzvah.”
It is customary to give tzedokah every day except Shabbos and holidays. It is a custom for all Jews to give before praying and for girls to give before lighting Shabbos and yom tov candles.
What makes the mitzvah of tzedokah so special? In general, people are intensely involved in earning money. Not only that, they use most of their money for necessities, such as food, clothing, etc. Taking money that they could have used and giving it to others is an act of self-sacrifice.
On a deeper level, Rabbi Shneur Zalman, the first Rebbe of Chabad said (Tanya, Igeres Hakodesh CH.21), “the effect and mystical consequence is to elicit and draw down supernal life from the Fountainhead of Life…[tzedokah has this effect] because the arousal [that man initiates] from below to revive the spirit of the humble “who has nothing at all of his own,” elicits an arousal from Above[1].
No wonder our sages say that, “Great is tzedokah, for it brings the Redemption closer. (Bava Basra 10a)”
An excerpt from the book “Judaism From Above The Clouds.”
Leibel Estrin has been writing about Jewish topics for four decades. He is working as a Jewish chaplain for the Aleph Institute. Leibel has recently published a work on Jewish perspectives and values entitled “Judaism From Above The Clouds.” To read more of Leibel’s writings and to purchase his book click here.
[1] Lessons in Tanya, Volume 5, Kehot Publication Society, New York, New York, 1997, P, 9, 11
