The importance of tzedakah Tb Baba Batra 9-10

Dappim TB Baba Batra 9 and 10 teaches the importance of tzedakah. All quotes come from Sefaria.org unless otherwise specified. I’m going to retranslate the word charity as tzedakah in all of the Sefaria citations based on what I learned from my friend Danny Siegel.

“Tzedakah” is derived from the Latin root caritas, meaning love, dearness, fondness.

“Philanthropy” comes from a combination of two Greek roots, philia, meaning love, and anthropos, meaning man.

Tzedakah - is צדקה derived from the Hebrew root צדק T-D-K meaning justice, that “which is right, and is related to the word צדיק, Tzaddik, a person who lives according to Tzedakah and Tzedek-and upright, giving life.”

Let us compare the implications of these terms. Tzedakah and philanthropy, though they have been stripped to a bare meaning of the giving of money, originally indicated acts of love, actions motivated by an inner caring for others. Tzedakah includes this feeling, of course, but goes further, superseding the immediate moods of the individual and demanding that-even if you’re not in a particularly loving mood-the obligation, the mitzvah, still requires us to give. (Gym Shoes and Irises, page 119) 

The rabbis inculcated this value through a series of their teachings. First and foremost, tzedakah is a foundational mitzvah for the observant Jew. “And Rav Asi says: Tzedakah is equivalent to all the other mitzvot combined, as it is stated in that verse: “We also established mitzvot upon ourselves.” A mitzva is not written here, but rather mitzvot, in the plural, thereby teaching that this mitzva is equivalent to all the other mitzvot.”

Every small act of tzedakah counts. “He said in the name of Rabbi Elazar: What is the meaning of that which is written: “And He donned tzedakah like a coat of mail” (Isaiah 59:17)? This verse serves to tell you that just as with regard to this coat of mail, each and every scale of which it is fashioned combines to form one large coat of mail, so too with regard to tzedakah, each and every peruta that one gives combines to form a great sum.”

The one who gives tzedakah in reality receives more than the poor. “And Rabbi Yitzḥak says: Anyone who gives a peruta to a poor person receives six blessings, and whoever consoles him with words of comfort and encouragement receives eleven blessings. The Gemara explains: One who gives a peruta to a poor person receives six blessings, as it is written: “Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you shall bring the poor that are cast out to your house? When you see the naked, that you cover him” (Isaiah 58:7). And the next verses list six blessings: “Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your health shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rearguard. Then, shall you call, and the Lord shall answer; you shall cry, and He shall say: Here I am” (Isaiah 58:8–9). “And whoever consoles a poor person with words of comfort and encouragement receives eleven blessings, as it is stated: “And if you draw out your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then shall your light shine in darkness, and your gloom shall be as the noonday. And the Lord shall guide you continually, and satisfy your thirst in drought… And they that shall be of you shall build the old waste places, you shall raise up the foundations of many generations” (Isaiah 58:10–12).”

The hardening of the heart and the refusal to give tzedakah is tantamount to idolatry, one the worst sins of the entire Bible. “As it is taught in a baraita: Rabbi Yehoshua ben Korḥa says: Anyone who turns his eyes away from one seeking tzedakah is considered as if he worships idols. From where is this derived? It is written here: “Beware that there be not a base thought in your heart…and your eye be evil against your poor brother, and you give him nothing” (Deuteronomy 15:9). And it is written there: “Certain base men have gone out…and have drawn away the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods” (Deuteronomy 13:14). Just as there, the base men sin with idolatry, so too here, the base thought is treated like idolatry.”

As God’s partner to perfect this world, tzedakah is one of the tools in our toolbox. “It is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Yehuda says: Great is tzedakah in that it advances the redemption, as it is stated: “So said the Lord, uphold justice and do tzedakah, for My salvation is near to come, and My righteousness to be revealed” (Isaiah 56:1)”

Tzedakah must be given prior praying for prayers to be effective, “It is related that Rabbi Elazar would first give a peruta to a poor person and only then would he pray. He said: As it is written in the same verse: ‘I will behold Your face through tzedakah.’”

How we give tzedakah is just as important as the act itself. We’ve learned previously great is the dignity do to human beings created in the divine image. When we give tzedakah we should give it in a manner that maintains that dignity. “Rather, how then should one act to conceal his own identity and also remain ignorant of the identities of the recipients? The Gemara answers: The best method is to put the money into the tzedakah purse.”

These are just some citations. I highly studying these two dappim to learn more about the importance of tzedakah.