The Alter Rebbe now explains the relationship between teshuvah and tzedakah.
- Teshuvah Begins in the Heart
He writes:
“The essence of teshuvah is in the heart.”
A person returns to Hashem through genuine regret and inner change.
This heartfelt repentance awakens a very high level of Divine mercy and kindness.
- But Inner Teshuvah Must Be Expressed in Action
Although teshuvah starts in the heart, to draw that Divine mercy into the world, a person needs a concrete action:
“Itaruta d’letata mamash b’bechinat ma’aseh”
“An awakening from below in actual deed.”
The deed the Alter Rebbe emphasizes is:
- Tzedakah
- Acts of kindness
- Why Tzedakah Specifically?
The person gives generously to:
“The poor and needy, who have nothing of their own.”
The Alter Rebbe explains that when someone shows extraordinary kindness to those who are lacking, he awakens a corresponding Divine response.
Measure for measure:
- Man gives kindness without strict calculation.
- Hashem responds with Rav Chesed (abundant kindness).
- Rav Chesed Is Beyond Limits
Earlier the Alter Rebbe distinguished between:
- Chesed Olam (kindness within limits)
- Rav Chesed (kindness beyond limits)
Ordinary mitzvot generally operate within fixed measures.
But when repairing the damage caused by sin, a person requires something greater:
A revelation of Divine kindness that transcends normal limits.
- This Repairs Spiritual Damage
The Alter Rebbe says that this higher Divine kindness:
Repairs all the blemishes caused by a person’s sins.
The repair reaches spiritual deficiencies that ordinary measured service cannot fully address.
- Why Tzedakah Is Greater Than Sacrifices in This Context
He cites the verse:
“To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to Hashem than a sacrifice.”
His point is that:
- A sacrifice has fixed limits.
- An animal sacrifice can only be brought in a particular way.
Tzedakah, however, can be continually increased.
Thus it becomes a unique vehicle for drawing unlimited Divine kindness.
- What About the Rule Not to Give More Than a Fifth?
Chazal teach:
“One who spends freely should not spend more than a fifth.”
The Alter Rebbe explains that this guideline applies in ordinary circumstances.
It applies to:
- A person who has not sinned.
- Or someone who has already completed the necessary rectification.
- Spiritual Healing Is Like Physical Healing
For someone who still needs repair, the Alter Rebbe argues:
The healing of the soul is no less important than the healing of the body.
Just as a person will spend significant resources to preserve physical health, he should be willing to sacrifice materially for the healing of his soul.
He supports this with the verse:
“All that a man has he will give for his life.”
Key Takeaway
The peshat of this passage is that true teshuvah begins with heartfelt regret, but its completion requires practical action. The Alter Rebbe teaches that generous tzedakah is uniquely capable of drawing Hashem’s boundless “Rav Chesed,” which repairs the spiritual damage caused by sin. For someone seeking spiritual healing, giving beyond ordinary measures can be justified just as one would spare no expense to heal the body.