The Alter Rebbe continues explaining the verse:
“וְהָיָה מַעֲשֵׂה הַצְּדָקָה שָׁלוֹם“
“The deed of tzedakah shall be peace.”
The focus here is on how tzedakah brings peace, both in the spiritual worlds and within a person.
- Peace Comes from an Awakening Below
The Alter Rebbe says that the great Divine revelation that creates peace above is awakened through:
“אִתְעָרוּתָא דִלְתַתָּא“ — an awakening from below.
What is that awakening?
- Tzedakah
- Kindness
- Giving life and support to someone in need
- Reviving the spirit of the downtrodden
When a Jew acts with compassion below, he awakens a corresponding revelation of Divine compassion above.
- What Does It Mean to “Make Peace”?
Chazal say:
“העוסק בתורה לשמה משים שלום בפמליא של מעלה ובפמליא של מטה“
“One who studies Torah for its own sake makes peace in the heavenly entourage and in the earthly entourage.”
The Alter Rebbe explains:
“The Heavenly Entourage”
Refers to the spiritual powers and attributes above, such as:
- Chesed
- Gevurah
which naturally pull in opposite directions.
“The Earthly Entourage”
Refers to:
- The lower spiritual worlds
- This physical world
where good and evil are mixed together since the sin of Adam.
- Our World Is a Mixture of Good and Evil
The Alter Rebbe stresses a very practical point:
In our world,
- Sometimes the good side wins.
- Sometimes the negative side gains strength.
The same is true inside every person, whom Chassidus calls:
“עולם קטן“ — a miniature world.
Human life is a constant struggle between higher and lower impulses.
- The Future Redemption
Ultimately there will be a complete clarification:
- Good will separate from evil.
- Evil will disappear.
- The world will openly recognize Hashem.
As the prophets say:
“The earth will be filled with knowledge of Hashem.”
and
“The glory of Hashem will be revealed.”
- A Personal Redemption Happens Now
Although the complete redemption is future, a person can experience a miniature version of it now.
The Alter Rebbe says this happens during:
- Prayer
- Torah study
- Times of personal reflection
- Acts of tzedakah
- Why Rabbi Elazar Gave Tzedakah Before Prayer
Chazal say:
“Rabbi Elazar gave a coin to a poor person and then prayed.”
Because tzedakah prepares the soul for Divine revelation.
The verse says:
“בצדק אחזה פניך“
“Through righteousness I will behold Your face.”
Meaning: through tzedakah a person becomes capable of perceiving Godliness.
- What Happens During Prayer?
The tzedakah and Torah create greater:
- Understanding (binah)
- Awareness (da’at)
- Reflection on Hashem’s greatness
From this are born:
- Love of Hashem
- Awe of Hashem
- The Purification of the Soul
The Alter Rebbe compares this process to refining silver and gold.
Just as a furnace separates:
- Pure metal
- From impurities
so prayer, Torah, and tzedakah separate:
- The good within a person
- From the selfish and negative tendencies mixed into it.
The deeper the person’s understanding and praise of Hashem, the greater the purification.
Key Takeaway
The peshat of this passage is that tzedakah is not only an act of kindness—it initiates a process of spiritual clarification. Through tzedakah, Torah, and prayer, a person draws Divine light into the world and into himself, separating good from evil, creating inner peace, and experiencing a personal foretaste of the future redemption when God’s presence will be openly revealed everywhere.