The Haftorah of this week finishes with the words, "Zion be'mishpat tipadeh ve'shaveha bi'tzedaka" - Zion, the BeitsHamikdash will be redeemed rightfully, and those that return (will be redeemed) through charity. As Chazal write "Tzedaka is great, as it brings the redemption closer."
Rabbi Yankel Galinsky visited Rav Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky, known as the Steipler.
The Steipler turned to Rabbi Galinsky and said, "I have a story for you that you can tell over in public."
There was a false accusation against the Sh"lah Hakadosh, Rabbi Yeshaya Halevi Horowitz. He made a promise that if he will be saved he will immigrate to Eretz Yisrael. Baruch Hashem the Sh"lah Hakadosh was saved and prepared to fulfill his promise and travel to Eretz Yisrael.
In those days traveling to Eretz Yisrael was a very long journey, the roads were dangerous and it was far from easy to survive financially in Eretz Yisrael.
The members of his Community in Frankfurt came to visit him and informed him that they would like to be partners in helping him fulfill his promise and would like to give him money for traveling and living expenses.
The Sh"lah Hakadosh replied that he had saved up enough money and did not need their help. However, he agreed to take on as if he had accepted it and pray for their success.
The Steipler had finished the story and was waiting for Rav Galinsky's reaction from this amazing story. Rav Galinsky was a bit lost, not quite sure how to reply. It was a nice story, but he had heard stories, more exciting, more dramatic, with stronger messages, what did the Steipler have in mind with this story?
The Steipler came to his rescue and continued. "The Jews of Frankfurt had a great understanding. They understood that if their Rabbi made a promise, didn't have the funds to fulfill it and they would finance him, they would be partners in him fulfilling his vow. And Hashem who promised to redeem us and send Mashiach, but is lacking the finance, which is our Torah study and our Mitzvos, if we provide Hashem with the finance He needs, we will be partners in bring Mashiach and redeeming the whole Jewish nation."
