3,208. The Importance of Tzedakah

Hilchos Matnos Aniyim 10:1

We must be even more careful when it comes to the mitzvah of tzedakah than we are with other Torah obligations because tzedakah is the hallmark of the righteous, descendants of our forefather Avraham, as per Genesis 18:19: “For I have known him, that he might command his children... to perform tzedakah.” The throne of Israel will only be established and the true faith will only endure through tzedakah, as per Isaiah 54:14: “You will be established through tzedakah.” Israel will only be redeemed through charity as per Isaiah 1:27: “Zion will be redeemed through judgment and her returnees through tzedakah.”

Hilchos Matnos Aniyim 10:2

One will never go broke because of giving charity, nor will any harm come about because of charity as per Isaiah 32:17: “the act of charity is peace.” One who is merciful will receive mercy as per Deuteronomy 13:18: “He will give you mercy and show you mercy and increase you.” If one is cruel and merciless, his lineage is under suspicion because cruelty is not a Jewish trait as per Jeremiah 3:42: “They are cruel and will not act mercifully.” The Jewish people and those who join them are like brothers as per Deuteronomy 14:1: “You are children to Hashem your God.” If one brother won’t show mercy to another, who will? To whom can the needy of Israel turn in such a case? Certain not to the nations of the world who hate them and persecute them! No, we can ultimately only turn to one another.