Tzedakah:
Preparing For Rosh Hashanah With Tzedakah
The pasuk (Devarim 16:20) states: “Tzedek tzedek tirdof l’ma’an yichyeh v’yarashtah es ha’aretz.” (Seek out a lot of righteousness so that you shall live and inherit the land.)
Rabenu Efraim (one of the great commentators on the Torah) writes: “This is as is stated (Mishlei 10:2): ‘Tzedakah saves from death’, as is seen from the story of the daughter of Rav Akiva (Shabbos 115B) and the story of Shmuel and Avlet (ibid), as well as the story of Binyomin Hatzadik (Bava Basra 11A).”
He adds that this is hinted to from the word “v’yarashta”, which has the same letters as the word “v’Tishrei”. This teaches us that one should give tzedakah before Tishrei so that he is sealed in the book of life.
Hashem Forgives One Who Gives Tzedakah
If one gives tzedakah and is compassionate to others, Hashem treats him with mercy and compassion, middah k’neged middah, and He grants him a good year.
The pasuk states that Ezra told the people of his generation (Nechemiah 8:13): “And send gifts (manos) to those who are not deserving of it because this day is sanctified to our Master.” Rashi says that the day mentioned in this pasuk was Rosh Hashanah.
Rav Yissochor Dov of Belz zy”a explains that the people were anguished because they felt that they felt that they hadn’t properly prepared for Rosh Hashanah. Ezra told them not to cry or be sad. Instead, they should send gifts...
He was saying that Hashem fulfills all of His mitzvos, including tzedakah. Therefore, you should give tzedakah, even to those who don’t deserve it. If you do so, Hashem will reciprocate and give you tzedakah by forgiving your sins and accepting your prayers, even if you don’t deserve it.
Sefer Imrei Noam adds that the word “manos” can be an acronym for “v’hitzaltah nafshi m’sh’ol tachtiyah.” (And save my soul from the depths of purgatory.) This is a hint that giving tzedakah saves a person from the worst punishments.
