The Alter Rebbe now adds a remarkable insight to his discussion of tzedakah.
Until now, he emphasized:
- Giving tzedakah.
- Giving it promptly.
- Giving it consistently.
Now he explains why it is preferable to give many times rather than giving the same total amount all at once.
- Many Acts Are Greater Than One Act
The Alter Rebbe cites the Rambamโs explanation of the Mishnah:
โืืืื ืืคื ืจืื ืืืขืฉืโ
โEverything depends on the frequency of the deed.โ
Suppose two people give the same amount of money.
- One gives it all at once.
- The other divides it into many separate acts of giving.
The second person has accomplished something greater.
- The Rambamโs Reason
The Rambam explains:
Repeated acts refine the soul.
Every act of charity trains a person to become more generous.
Instead of one moment of kindness, there are many moments of kindness.
Instead of one victory over selfishness, there are many victories.
This repeatedly shapes the character of the giver.
- The Alter Rebbe Adds a Deeper Reason
The Alter Rebbe says there is also a mystical dimension.
The verse states:
โืคืขืืืช ืฆืืงื ืืืืืโ
โThe work of tzedakah is life.โ
Tzedakah does more than help the poor.
It draws:
Supernal life from the Source of Life
into the world.
- Reviving the Shechinah
The Alter Rebbe identifies this flow of life with:
The Shechinah.
He refers to the Shechinah as:
โืกืืืช ืืื ืื ืืคืืชโ
โThe fallen Sukkah of David.โ
and reminds us that Chazal teach:
When Israel went into exile, the Shechinah went into exile with them.
- Measure for Measure
When a person gives charity to revive the poor below,
he creates:
ืืชืขืจืืชื ืืืชืชื (an awakening below).
This causes:
ืืชืขืจืืชื ืืืขืืื (an awakening above).
Just as he gives life below,
Divine life is drawn down above.
- Supporting Eretz Yisrael
The Alter Rebbe is specifically discussing support for:
The Jews living in Eretz Yisrael.
Therefore the giving is not merely helping needy individuals.
It is helping sustain:
โืืืฉืื ืืจืฅ ืืืืืโ
The inhabitants of the Land of Life.
This gives the act an especially elevated significance.
- Why Many Gifts Create Greater Results
Now the statement of Chazal becomes clearer.
Every separate act of tzedakah creates:
- A new awakening below.
- A new awakening above.
- A new drawing down of Divine life.
Therefore:
Ten gifts are not merely ten times the amount.
They are ten separate spiritual accomplishments.
- The True Meaning of Refining the Soul
The Alter Rebbe connects his explanation back to the Rambam.
The Rambam spoke about refining the soul.
The Alter Rebbe notes that the Zohar often refers to:
The Shechinah as โNefesh.โ
Therefore repeated acts of charity both:
- Refine the giverโs soul.
- Elevate and strengthen the Shechinah.
The two ideas complement one another.
- Why Tzedakah Brings the Geulah
The Alter Rebbe concludes with the famous statement:
โืืืืื ืฆืืงื ืฉืืงืจืืช ืืช ืืืืืืโ
โGreat is tzedakah, for it brings the Redemption closer.โ
Why?
Because redemption means:
Raising the Shechinah from the dust of exile.
Every act of tzedakah contributes to that process.
Not all at once, but:
โืืขื ืืขืโ
Little by little.
Each gift lifts the Shechinah another step toward complete redemption.
Key Takeaway
The Alter Rebbe teaches that many acts of tzedakah are spiritually greater than a single gift of the same total value. Besides refining the giverโs character, every individual act creates a new awakening below and a corresponding flow of Divine life above. Through repeated acts of charity, especially in support of the inhabitants of Eretz Yisrael, a person strengthens the Shechinah and participates in the gradual process that leads to the final Geulah.