Segulot for Tzedakah

Segulot for Tzedakah

Sources in the Torah on giving tzedakah - “Open your hand to the poor” (Devarim 15:8); - “So that your brother may live with you” (Vayikra 25:36); - “For I have chosen him so that he may command his children ... to do tzedakah and justice” (Bereishit 18:19); - “Tzedakah and justice are more pleasing to G-d than sacrifices” (Mishlei 21:3); - “Tzion shall be redeemed through justice, and those who return to her through tzedakah” (Yeshayahu 1:27); - “If you do not open your door to the poor for the sake of a mitzvah, you will open it to a doctor” (Chazal); The reward for tzedakah - “Share your bread with the hungry, and ... then you will call and the L-rd will answer.” “Sin does not erase this merit as it erases the merits of other mitzvot. And it gives life.” (The Chida, Birkei Yosef, Laws of Tzedakah 247) “The mitzvah of tzedakah illuminates a person throughout the week, while other mitzvot do so for no more than one day.” (The Chida, Birkei Yosef, Laws of Tzedakah) The Wheel of Tzedakah “Every person must constantly pray for mercy so that he does not become poor, for even if he himself cannot become poor, his sons may, and if not his sons, then his grandsons—as it is said: ‘Ki biglal hadavar hazeh yevarechecha Ad-nai Elohecha’ — (for this reason your G-d will bless you), where the phrase ‘Ki biglal hadavar hazeh’ - means the wheel that turns in the world. (Tractate Shabbat 151) In Hebrew, the words “biglal” (for this reason) and “galgal” (wheel) share the same root. Therefore, one should give more tzedakah so that one's children do not become poor. (Rabbi Elazar HaKappar—one of the authors of the Mishnah); How much to give and when - Give according to one's means, in an amount that will not impoverish the donor; - Tzedakah is also given to the poor among the nations, for the sake of peace; - A person who earns money or receives a gift should give 10 percent of it (the ideal way to fulfill the mitzvah is to give 20 percent); “Aser ta'aser”—you shall surely tithe from all the produce of your planting. (Devarim 14:22) The Sages explained in the Talmud: “Aser ta'aser bishvil shetitasher”—give tithes so that you may become wealthy. (Shabbat 119) When a wealthy person gives tzedakah to a poor person, he is not giving from his own possessions, for he is giving funds entrusted to him by the Creator. This is why the word “tzedakah” derives from the word “tzedek” (justice). Testing G-d Chazal teach that one may not test G-d except with regard to this mitzvah: “Bring all your tithes to the storehouse, so that there may be food in My House, and test Me with this ... Will I not open the windows of heaven for you and pour out a blessing without limit?” And what does “without limit” mean? Rami bar Hama said: “It is when one's lips grow weary of saying the word ‘enough.’” (Ta'anit 9) Priorities in tzedakah: Yeshivah students, the poor of one's city, the mitzvah of hospitality, visiting the sick, hachnasat kallah, redeeming captives ... - Needy parents; - Children aged six and older (education); - Needy brothers and sisters; - Other needy relatives; - Needy neighbors; - Needy residents of one's city; - Needy residents of the Land of Israel; How should tzedakah be given? - Give tzedakah generously and for the sake of Heaven, as it is said: “All the fat (the choicest parts of the sacrificial animal) is the L-rd's.” (Vayikra 3:16) - Give with the right hand. (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 206) - Give graciously: “And you shall not feel badly when you give to him, for because of this the L-rd your G-d will bless you.” (Devarim 15:10) - Do not send a poor person away empty-handed. - A woman must also give tzedakah, but a large donation should not be accepted from a married woman without her husband's knowledge. (Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah 248) - Support someone who has begun to fall into poverty. - Do not take pride in a donation you have made. - Give to a Torah scholar in accordance with his honor: “One who supports a scholar merits sitting in the heavenly Yeshivah.” (Pesachim 53) When to give tzedakah: - Before prayer. - The Arizal (of blessed memory) gave tzedakah while standing before the words: “Vayvarech David et...”—in Pesukei DeZimra during Shacharit and during Mincha: two coins at once, followed by one more. The Power of Tears — Esau’s 2½ Tears and the Mystery of the Three Coins in Shacharit (Ben Ish Chai, Vayakhel 6); - Before reading Tehillim. - Tzedakah is not given during Maariv, because it is a time of judgment and is unsuitable for charity. (Birkei Yosef in the name of the disciples of the Ari, Orach Chaim 235) (but when poor people are encountered, one should give); - Before setting out on a journey: “Tzedakah shall go before Him, and He shall set His footsteps on the way.” (Tehillim 85:14) One may say: “When I arrive at such-and-such a place, I will (bli neder) give such-and-such an amount to tzedakah for the elevation of the soul of Rabbi Meir Ba'al HaNes.” (Kaf HaChaim 110, Eliyahu Rabbah 110) Give a coin to someone setting out on a journey so that he can give it to the poor at his destination—he will then be an agent for the mitzvah and will be protected. - Before lighting Shabbat and holiday candles. Tzedakah on holidays - On every Rosh Chodesh; - Before Pesach—“Kimcha dePischa” (wheat for matzah), which nowadays is replaced with tzedakah; - Before Lag BaOmer—give an amount equivalent to 18, corresponding to the day of the hilula of Rashbi (18 Iyar) and the word “chai”; - On Erev Shavuot (according to Rabbi Chaim Palagi)—give tzedakah to yeshivot in an amount equal to 104 (first 91, then add 13), a segula for the birth of sons (104 is twice 52); - From Rosh Hashanah through Yom Kippur; It is written in Nechemiah (8:10): “Eat rich foods and drink sweet drinks, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared” (give more than usual); - During the Ten Days of Repentance, including Erev Yom Kippur; - Before Sukkot—a custom based on Kabbalah (Mateh Ephraim 625); - On Hoshana Rabbah—the purpose is to temper harsh judgments (give more than usual); after reading the Psalms on Hoshana Rabbah. The first word of the first Psalm is “ashrei” (fortunate), which alludes to the sefirah of Keter—the crown, directly connected with David HaMelech (the King). On the seventh and final day, David HaMelech, one of the Ushpizin, comes to the sukkah; therefore, all of this is connected with the idea of redemption and liberation; - Before Chanukah—“d'mei Chanukah” (Chanukah money)—this tzedakah helps rectify the soul of the person giving it, especially when it is given to those who study Torah; Tzedakah for the Elevation of a Soul Le-ilui nishmat—helps the souls of the departed: “Forgive Your people Israel whom You have redeemed”—“Your people Israel” refers to the living, while “whom You have redeemed” refers to those who have departed this world. (Devarim 21:8; Kaf HaChaim 282) - Give tzedakah throughout the year of mourning and on the anniversary of the passing; When a miracle has occurred - For the honor of Rabbi Meir Ba'al HaNes (and light a candle for the tzadik); - Before going to a doctor, to draw down the blessing of the Almighty; (Torat Menachem 5747) - On Mondays and Thursdays—the days when the Torah is taken out—when courts of Torah are convened here on earth (and, correspondingly, in the Higher Worlds), the Heavenly Court will certainly decree that the giver's success in life be increased. (Torat Menachem 7) - During the days of “Bein HaMetzarim” (the Three Weeks)—the period of partial mourning from 17 Tammuz through 9 Av—increase one's tzedakah, since the Temple was destroyed because of sinat chinam (baseless hatred), whose rectification is through ahavat chinam (baseless love). Give several times during the fast itself—9 Av; - During the month of Elul—the idea of tzedakah in Elul is encoded in the month's acronym: “Ish Lere'ehu Umatanot La'evyonim” (a person to his fellow and gifts to the poor). This is a verse from the Megillat Esther. From this we learn that tzedakah in this month should be valuable like a gift—substantial and meaningful. - On fast days - 1 Adar—on 1 Adar, the announcement concerning the half-shekalim was made, making it an auspicious day for charity, which is the central idea of the Temple collection of the half-shekel; (the Rebbe's talk on Rosh Chodesh Adar) - For pregnant women—before lighting Shabbat candles, add 18 coins to the charity box of Rabbi Meir Ba'al HaNes; The husband should also set aside a small amount every day until the birth. (Igrot Kodesh 6) - On a birthday—add to one's regular donations before prayer; - On the wedding day. Tzedakah is the “cup of salvation”; it is therefore good to give tzedakah on the morning of the wedding and before the chuppah, for the success of the couple's future life together; (Based on the book “Mercy” by Rabbi Mishael A. and other holy books)