On this pasuk, the Zohar Hakadosh (113B) states: “Everyone should put forth his strength and merit the power of the tikkun brought about by glorifying His name in the Upper Worlds. How is this sanctification of His name achieved? Through tzedakah, as is stated (Bereishis 18:19): ‘And you shall guard the way of Hashem to do tzedakah and mishpat.’ Since the pasuk first says to guard the way of Hashem, why does it then say to do tzedakah and mishpat? Because one who guards the ways of the Torah does tzedakah and mishpat. And what is tzedakah and mishpat? That is Hakadosh Boruch Hu.
“Rav Shimon cried and said, ‘Woe to those people who don’t know and don’t pay attention to the honor of their Master. Who creates a holy name for Him every day? Those who give tzedakah to the poor.
“A poor man lives with ‘din’ (strict judgment) and he receives his sustenance with din. Hashem is called ‘tzedek’ (righteousness)... When one gives charity to the poor, he creates a proper holy name Above because tzedakah is a tree of life, and he is giving tzedakah to ‘the tzedek’. When one gives tzedakah, the two connect, and the holy name is complete.
“When one creates this arousal in this world, he is certainly making a holy name to completion, as a person’s actions in this lower world creates an arousal in the Upper Worlds. Regarding this, the pasuk says (Tehillim 106:3): ‘Praised are those who guard mishpat and make tzedakah at all times.’ ‘Making tzedakah’ refers to Hakadosh Boruch Hu. It is, so to speak, as if the one giving tzedakah is ‘making Him.’
“... Why is a poor man considered like a dead person? What is the reason for this? Because he finds himself in a place of death. When one has compassion for the poor man and gives him charity, he is granting him life and saving him from death, as is stated (Mishlei 10:2): ‘Tzedakah saves from death.’ And a person’s actions in this world literally have an impact on the Upper Worlds.
“Fortunate is the man who merits creating a holy name Above. His tzedakah ascends beyond all else.”
