The Tzedakah One Gives Speaks on His Behalf:
The word “parsah” (hoof) can also be translated as “perusah” (a piece of bread).
It is said in the name of Rav Meir of Premishlan zy”a that this pasuk can be understood to be saying that when a person dies, he does not leave behind even one piece of bread that he gave to a poor person. Rather, every piece goes up to Shomayim and speaks on the person’s behalf before the Heavenly Court.”
In the Merit of Tzedakah, His Life Was Saved:
On the topic of tzedakah, the following story is related about Rav Yitzchok of Kalish zy”a (son of Rav Aron Leib of Premishlan zy”a, brother of Rav Meir of Premishlan zy”a), who was known to have an open house for all wanderers and poor people:
One day (Sefer Oros Mordechai says that it was on an erev Shabbos), a non-Jew came to Rav Yitzchok’s home and asked for a piece of bread. The Rebbitzen had just baked fresh challos and was reluctant to cut open a whole loaf just to give one piece to this gentile. However, Rav Yitzchok told her, “If you cut the bread, Jewish blood will not be spilled.”
The Rebbitzen did as he said and she gave the non-Jew enough bread to sate his hunger.
Shortly thereafter, Rav Yitzchok traveled to Hungary. His journey took him through the Carpathian Mountains, where gangs of highwaymen who would rob and travelers, and occasionally kill them, were common on the roads. Rav Yitzchok was captured by thieves, who took all the money he had with him. They then brought him to their leader to ask what they should do with him. Should they kill him to ensure he doesn’t inform on them to the authorities, or should they let him go?
The leader of the highwaymen immediately recognized Rav Yitzchok as the man who had been kind to him and had told his wife to give him bread. He said, “This Jew saved my life when I was starving. Let him go and give him back his money.”
Rav Yitzchok walked out in peace. When he got home, he told his Rebbitzen, “Didn’t I tell you that if you cut the bread, blood would not be spilled. In the merit of that bread, my life was spared.” (Ohr Hameir Premishlan)
