Halacha: Tzedakah Before Tefillah
The Gemara (1) says that Rebbi Elazar first gave tzedakah to the poor, and only then prayed.
The Rambam (2) explains that the great Sages would give tzedakah to the poor before each prayer.
The Shulchan Aruch (3) rules as Halacha that one should give tzedakah before praying.
The choicest place to fulfill this before Shacharit is during the Va'yevarech David portion in Pesukei d'zimra, when saying "V'ata moshel ba'kol" (4).
One who also give tzedakah when saying "ki kol ba'shamiyim u'va'aretz" in Va'yevarech David will receive a blessing from heaven (5).
The tzedakah should be given then, instead of before Amidah in order not to cause an unnecessary interruption before Amidah (6).
The Shla"h HaKadosh (7) gives a reason it was chosen to give the tzedakah during Va'yevarech David instead of another segment.
He explains, in Sefer Divrei HaYamim you find the Jews gave considerable donations towards the Beit HaMikdash with joy, and afterwards it says "Va'yevarech David".
According to Kabbalah (8) three coins should be given standing, two together, then the third.
Some (9) also give tzedakah before they walk into Shul, in order to fulfill the verse "V'ani b'tzedek echazeh panecha", Hashem wants us to fulfill a righteous deed (tzedakah) *before* He see's us (in Shul).
- Bava Batra 10a
- Hilchot Matanot Ani'im Ch.10 Halacha 15
- O"C 92:10
- Magen Avraham 51:7, Ben Ish Chai Parshat Vayigash 13
- Ben Ish Chai Parshat Vayigash 13
- Sha'arei Halacha u'minhag Siman 42
- Bait HaGadol #3
- Kaf HaChaim 51:44 & 92:45, Ben Ish Chai Parshat Vayigash 13
- Kaf HaChaim Siman 51:44 & 92:45, Minhagei Chatam Sofer Ch.1 #7
