We should step up your efforts in supplying Maos Chitim. Moreover, in keeping with the ability granted on Rosh Chodesh Nissan for miraculous conduct—i.e., to go beyond our natural or habitual efforts—we should even give more than a tenth of our earnings, or even more than a fifth during this time, giving to an unlimited extent (bli gevul).
Pesach to the needy: We should a) begin to provide these requirements thirty days in advance; and b) greatly increase our donations and activities two weeks before Pesach (ibid.).
No Needy Jews in Nissan
In addition to our Maos Chitim activities that began thirty days before Pesach, we should make proper preparations in the latter days of Adar, particularly during the week before Rosh Chodesh, so that we will be able to amplify our efforts from Rosh Chodesh Nissan and onward. Ideally, though, by the time Rosh Chodesh Nissan arrives, every Jew should already have everything they need for Pesach (Parshas Vayakhel-Pekudei, 5747; Hisvaaduyos, p. 374).
Super-Donations
All of this applies to the days prior to Rosh Chodesh Nissan as well. Certainly, then, it applies following Rosh Chodesh, when the innovation (chidush) of miraculous conduct enters our Divine service (Parshas Vayikra, 5747; Hisvaaduyos, pp. 376-378).
An Elevated Service
It is now thirty days before Pesach—we should fulfill our obligation to provide our fellow Jews with their Pesach needs in an “elevated” manner, reflecting the name of this week’s Parshah, “Ki Sisa”—“When you count (lit. ‘elevate’) the ‘head’ of each of the Children of Israel” (in both quantity and quality).
For a start, we should donate in a generous manner—i.e., giving in an “elevated” manner, not only donating a tenth or a fifth (of our earnings), but even more than that.
Aren’t We Told Not to Give More Than a Fifth?
True, our Sages teach that “one should not give extravagantly (i.e., more than a fifth of his wealth on tzedakah).” Nevertheless, as the Alter Rebbe explains, nowadays “we should greatly increase our giving of tzedakah,” telling us, “Do not be concerned with [the teaching] ‘Do not give [extravagantly, i.e., more than a fifth].’” Now, if the restriction no longer applied in the Alter Rebbe’s era, then we certainly should not be concerned with this restriction in our own generation, many generations after that of the Alter Rebbe.
Give More, Gladly
Moreover, the Previous Rebbe, the Leader of this Generation and a successor of the Alter Rebbe, bears the name “Yosef Yitzchak”—“Yosef” meaning “addition,” which includes an addition in tzedakah, and “Yitzchak” (“laughter” and “joy”), which indicates the giving of tzedakah joyfully, with a glad heart and a friendly attitude.
Thus, we should donate in a manner that also elevates the spirits of the recipient (i.e., giving in a friendly manner). This, in fact, is the predominant aspect of giving tzedakah (Parshas Ki Sisa, 5743; Hisvaaduyos, p. 380).
Create a Last-Minute Rush
The concept of alacrity is emphasized throughout the themes of Pesach, starting with the rushed baking of shemurah matzos. So just before Pesach, we should again increase and complete our efforts at providing all the needs of Pesach (for others), and doing so with alacrity.
Make Every Jew Wealthy
In the final hours before Pesach, we should promote the need to complete supplying (the funds) for Maos Chitim. Everyone can, and should, complete and perfect his or her efforts at donating in a friendly manner. This, in fact, is the predominant aspect of giving tzedakah (Parshas Ki Sisa, 5743; Hisvaaduyos, p. 382).
...so that it should not become chametz, Heaven forbid (Yud Alef Nissan, 5747; Hisvaaduyos, p. 383).
Hurry
We will now conclude this gathering by distributing dollars for tzedakah to all who are present. Those who are not here now, but are listening via live hookup, should also give tzedakah in their respective locations now—each person making another into his agent (to give tzedakah on his own) towards a timely cause, Maos Chitim. The sooner this is done—and the quicker—the better (ibid., p. 384).
Like Your Own Pesach
We should utilize the remaining time before Pesach to increase in and complete the supplying of Maos Chitim and all other Pesach requirements to all who need them—not only providing “whatever he is lacking,” but also donating amply, even to the extent of “making him wealthy.” We should do this in the same way that we try to ensure that our own affairs are arranged in an ample and affluent manner.
“All Who Are Needy”—Who’s That?
We should continue this drive until not a single Jew remains in a state of hunger and need.
Do not be concerned with rendering the opening passage of the Haggadah superfluous, for even in such a situation (i.e., that there would no longer be any poor Jews), we will nevertheless be able to continue reciting, “All who are hungry, come in and eat! All who are needy, come in and perform the Seder!” Rather than referring to actual paupers, we will in effect be declaring, “Were it possible for such a prospect (of a Jew who is hungry or needy), then we would certainly invite him now to join us in the Pesach Seder...” (Parshas Tzav, 5743; Hisvaaduyos, p. 386, with fn. 246 and 247).
Grab the Last Minutes of a Mitzvah
...In the final hours before Pesach—while it is still permissible to handle money, and indeed, when it is still a mitzvah to handle money for the sake of Torah and mitzvos... (Erev Pesach, 5743; Hisvaaduyos, p. 388).
Eliminating Poverty from Among One’s Fellow Jews
Indeed, we should even strive to make each individual Jew literally wealthy.
Clothes and Adornments for Women
The needs of the festival include making sure that husbands are able to fulfill their obligation to make their wives joyful during the festivals, through purchasing clothes and adornments for them.
Women’s Donation—A Higher Form of Tzedakah
We should emphasize the role of women in giving tzedakah, for, in fact, the tzedakah of a woman can often surpass that of a man.
Attain Perfection
Practically speaking, since action is the main thing, undoubtedly, everyone has already fulfilled his obligation to provide Pesach requirements (for the needy), in addition to his general obligation to give tzedakah. Nevertheless, it is quite possible that some still need to complete (“lehashlim,” as in “mashlim,” to make up for any lack in) their donations of Maos Chitim. Furthermore, everyone is able, and should, perfect (“lehashlim,” as in “shleimus,” reach a state of perfection) in their contributions...
For that reason, we will now make everyone here an agent for tzedakah (as is customary), but this time, the tzedakah should specifically be given to funding Maos Chitim, in preparation for our announcement (at the opening of the Seder), “All who are hungry... needy... come in and make the Seder” (ibid.).
He Can’t Eat a Coin
As the Talmud states, “A woman is commonly found in her home. There, she gives a [ready-to-eat] piece of bread to a pauper [who goes from house to house]. Thus, his benefit [from her tzedakah] is immediate.” This is not the case with the monetary tzedakah that a man usually donates; he is normally away from home during the day, and when he meets a pauper, he simply gives him a coin—which the hungry pauper must first convert into food in order to benefit from the donation.
It was for this very reason that women and girls participated in the special gathering... for tzedakah donors, which was (recently) held (in 5747) in order to promote and encourage additional donations and much greater energy in giving tzedakah (Parshas Vayikra, 5747; Hisvaaduyos, p. 388).
Supply Shemurah Matzah
When an announcement was made regarding the “Mitzvah Tanks” that would be circulating in various locations around New York in honor of Yud Alef Nissan (the 11th of Nissan, the Rebbe’s birthday), promoting Judaism in general and Pesach observance in particular, the Rebbe instructed that an additional announcement be made to specifically distribute shemurah matzah.
The preparations for Pesach include studying the laws of Pesach, providing Maos Chitim, distributing shemurah matzah, and so on (Parshas Shemini, 5747; Hisvaaduyos, p. 390).
