Tzedakah Brings Relief
Rav Avira repeated this derashah, sometimes in the name of Rav Ami and sometimes in the name of Rav Assi, based on the passuk (Nachum 1:12): וּזֹּגָנ ןֵכְו יםִּבַר ןֵכְו יםִמֵלְׁש םִא 'ה רַמָא הֹּכ עוֹד ˂ֵּנַﬠֲא אֹל ˂ִתִּנִﬠְו רָבָﬠְו – “Thus Hashem has said: Whether severely limited or plentiful, the load is lightened and it passes through. I have caused you pain but I will not cause you pain anymore.” The word “sheleimim” means limited or scarce. If a person sees that he has very little sustenance, he should use what he has to give tzedakah. And certainly when there is plenty he should give tzedakah. In this way he is relieved of his suffering.
This can be explained with a parable of two sheep crossing a river. One sheep had been shorn of its wool while the other was not. The one whose wool was shorn is able to walk through the river, while the one that was not shorn is weighed down by the water soaked up in its wool and it cannot go through the river. In the same way, a person who gives away some of his money for tzedakah will find that his funds are increased.
In the yeshivah of Rabi Yishmael they taught: Anyone who cuts off some of his possessions to give to tzedakah is saved from the judgments of Gehinnom.
Regarding the continuation of the passuk, “I have caused you pain...” – Rav Zutra says, “Even a poor man who is supported through tzedakah must give tzedakah. If he does this, Hashem will “not cause you pain anymore.” Rav Yosef explains: He is no longer shown any sign of poverty. (Gittin 7a)
