Our Sages teach, ‐great is tzedaka, for it brings the geulah (redemption) closer.‐
What is indeed the connection between tzedaka and the geulah? The Alter Rebbe explains: Doing mitzvot in general brings the geulah, because through them we reveal Hashem’s presence in this lowly world, transforming the physicality from its attachment to klipot (spiritual impurity), bringing it under the reign of kedusha (holiness). The more physically involved the mitzvah is, the more klipot we can do away with, and the more we can reveal G-dliness in this world.
In addition to the physical objects used to perform the mitzvah, doing a mitzvah also has an affect on the soul of the performer. It refines the person’s animal soul and brings it into a world of kedusha. The more involved one’s being is in the performance of a mitzvah, the more his animal soul will be refined. When all the Jews in the world work to accomplish their part in this process, G-dliness is gradually revealed more and more, until the whole world is filled with Hashem’s infinite light. Then the world will finally be ready for the geulah, and all klipot will be done away with for good.
Now we can understand why the mitzvah of tzedaka is specifically singled out as the one to bring the geulah closer: The one and only mitzvah that has the most involvement of a person’s being is tzedaka. A person works hard to earn his money; the money he earns includes the powers of his entire soul. So when he gives that money to tzedaka, he is refining all aspects of his animal soul and elevating them to kedusha. Additionally, since this money could have been used to buy basic necessities of life, it contains the very essence of one’s life within it. Therefore, giving this money to tzedaka refines all aspects of the soul; a person’s very life.
This is why tzedaka is especially apt to bring the geulah—because it refines so much of the animal soul, making way for the light of the time of Moshiach.
So what are we indeed to do to bring Moshiach? The Rebbe called on everyone to increase in the study of Torah on the subject of Moshiach and geulah. Additionally, the Rebbe called for an increase in fulfilling mitzvot, especially the mitzvah of tzedaka, which is specifically suitable for bringing the geulah.
Interestingly, the Rebbe added: We can connect our increase in tzedaka with our increase in studying about geulah, by giving tzedaka with the specific intention of hastening the coming of Moshiach. Being that this fact (that tzedaka hastens geulah) is written in Torah, doing the act (tzedaka) and thinking the thought (Torah) will connect the two together.
And, as the Rebbe said: ...the quantity [of just one dollar] doesn’t matter; the most important thing is to give it to tzedaka. This will hasten the coming of Moshiach, as our Sages say, ‐great is tzedaka, for it brings the redemption closer‐, the literal and actual geulah, through our Righteous Moshiach!‐
Redeemed through Tzedaka
Our Sages teach, ‐the Jewish people will only be redeemed through tzedaka.‐
The Alter Rebbe explains: Nowadays, at the end of the exile, our most important mitzvah is to give tzedaka. The reason being that the level of Malchut, referred to as ‐Sukkat David‐ (the Shechinah (the Divine Prescence) that vests itself in the lower Worlds) has fallen to the lowest level. It is our job to elevate it by way of acts of tzedaka, giving to someone who is in a lower state than you and doesn’t have anything of his own.
reprinted from Derher