The power of tzedakah TB Gittin 7

Today’s daf TB Gittin 7 goes off on a tangent teaching us the power of tzedakah.

“Rav Avira interpreted a verse homiletically. Sometimes he would say it in the name of Rav Ami, and sometimes he would say it in the name of Rav Asi: What is the meaning of that which is written: “Thus says the Lord: Though they be in full strength [shelemim], and likewise many, even so shall they be cut down, and he shall pass away; and though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more” (Nahum 1:12). This means: If a person sees that his sustenance is limited he should use it for charity, and all the more so when it is plentiful. In other words, if his livelihood has finished [nishlam] he should perform charity, and he should certainly act in this manner if his means are plentiful.” (Sefaria.org translation)

I highly recommend reading the book The Soul of Money by Lynne Twist. She writes: “When you let go of trying to get more what you don’t really need, it frees up oceans of energy to make a difference with what you have. When you make a difference with what you have, it expands.” (Page 67) “Sufficiency isn’t an amount at all. It is an experience, a context we generate, a declaration, a knowing that there is enough, and that we are enough. Sufficiency resides inside of each of us, and we can call it forward. Is a consciousness, and attention, and internal choosing of the way we think about our circumstances. In a relationship with money, it is using money in a way that expresses our integrity; using it in a way that expresses value rather than determines value… We feel naturally called to share the resources that flow through our lives-our time, money, wisdom, our energy, and whatever level those resources flow-to serve our highest commitments… If you’re willing to let go, let go of the chase to acquire or accumulate always more and let go that way of perceiving the world, then you can take all that energy and attention and invested in what you have. When you do that you’ll find unimagined treasures, and wealth of surprising and even stunning depth and diversity.” (Page 74-75) Giving tzedakah no matter what our circumstances inculcates within us the lesson of sufficiency.

" The Gemara asks: What is the meaning of the phrase: “Even so shall they be cut down [nagozzu], and he shall pass away”? A Sage from the school of Rabbi Yishmael taught: Anyone who shears off [gozez] some of his property and performs charity with it will be saved from the judgment of Gehenna. The Gemara offers a parable that compares this case to two sheep that were passing through the water. One of them was shorn and the other one was unshorn. The shorn sheep crossed to the other side, but the unshorn sheep did not cross, as its wool absorbed the water and it drowned. Similarly, one who shears off his property and gives it as charity will not descend to Gehenna.” (Sefaria.org translation)

The root meeting of tzedakah (צדקה) comes from the Hebrew word tzedek (צדק) which means righteousness. More than our feelings influence our actions our actions impact our feelings. The more we give tzedakah with the correct intentions, the more righteous we become with the goal of becoming a true tzadik (צדיק), a righteous person. When we become a person who does what is right, we have no fear of judgment in this world or in the world to come.

“The Gemara addresses the continuation of the verse: “And though I have afflicted you [ve’innitikh]” (Nahum 1:12). Mar Zutra says: This means that even a poor person [ani] who is sustained from charity must also perform charity. With regard to the expression: “And I will afflict you [a’anekh] no more,” Rav Yosef teaches: This means that if he gives charity to others, God will no longer show him signs of poverty [aniyyut].” (Sefaria.org translation)

There are three reasons why a person who is sustained from charity should also give tzedakah. We should always avoid embarrassing a person. We can imagine the embarrassment of a poor person who was singled out that he doesn’t have to give because he’s too poor. Contemplate the embarrassment of Gary Greene when somebody says, “Everybody is obligated to fulfill the mitzvah of tzedakah, except Gary Greene who is too poor.”  Secondly, helping others generates a whole host positive feelings. Why should a poor person be denied all those positive feelings?! Last of all, the world turns around all the time. Today the persons is poor; tomorrow his fortunes may turn around and he’ll become rich. Our tradition was to inculcate the tzedakah habit so no matter what the person’s fortunes may be at any particular time, he will automatically do what is right and help the poor person by giving tzedakah.

If you want to learn more about the power of tzedakah, I highly recommend reading any one of Danny Siegel’s books and essays.