Zohar on Tehillim 102 - Tzedakah
Tehillim 102:1
- "Tefillah le-ani ki ya'atof" - (the prayer of the poor man who is faint with hunger).
The poor man is associated with judgments, and his sustenance is connected with judgments and derives from the level of Tzedek.
Regarding this it is written: תפלה לעני כי יעטוף - (the prayer of the poor man who is faint with hunger).
The word "tefillah" is one of the names of the hand tefillin and alludes to the level of Malchut. It has been explained that Malchut, when separated from Zeir Anpin, is poor and is called Tzedek. When a Jew gives tzedakah to a poor person, he brings about below the formation of the holy, perfect Name as it should be, uniting Malchut with Zeir Anpin; and Zeir Anpin gives her all the Light, because tzedakah is the Tree of Life. It gives Light to the level of Tzedek, exerting influence upon it. Then Zeir Anpin and Malchut unite, and the holy Name is complete.
A person who gives tzedakah brings about this arousal below, as though creating the holy, perfect Name. His action below arouses a corresponding action above. Therefore it is written: "Happy is the man who guards mishpat, performing tzedakah always." Tzedakah is the Name of the Holy One, blessed be He. This person is as though he had created Him.
(Zohar on Bechukotai, Sulam, Zvi NisanZon).
