The Great Effect of Tzedakah:
There is an ancient minhag to give a lot of tzedakah on Purim and to donate to anyone who stretches out his hand. The Yesod V’Shoresh Ha’avodah (Shaar 12, Perek 6) describes the power of giving tzedakah on Purim by saying as follows:
“This day is glorious that it is above all other days of the year in regards to the mitzvah of tzedakah. When one gives tzedakah on this day, he makes great tikkunim in the Upper Worlds, which cannot be made on other days. Therefore, one should give a lot of tzedakah and gifts to the poor, even more than he can afford. If anyone stretches out his hand to take – even if you know that he doesn’t need to take charity – you should give him. In the merit of this middah of vatranus )giving in( on this day, one makes great tikkunim in the Upper Worlds.”
One Who Gives Tzedakah on Purim Merits Wealth:
The Kedushas Levi (Kedusha Bais L’Purim) writes: “Praiseworthy is the man who creates a nachas ruach for his Creator and who is very happy to do all mitzvos, especially the mitzvah of tzedakah and matanas l’evyonim, and who gives it with much joy. Do not, chas v’shalom, think that you should be stingy because you are losing money when you give it away to the poor. Rather, since you are doing chesed in all of the worlds, Hashem will increase your worth 1,000 times and He will bless you, as He has promised...This is especially true because giving matanos l’evyonim creates a great abundance of goodness in this world...Therefore, since you are creating goodness in this world, it is certain that you will receive wealth and honor in order to serve Him...”
The Source of Wealth in the Upper Worlds:
Rav Leibele Eiger of Lublin zy”a (Sefer Toras Emes 5626) explained the mitzvahs of mishloach manos, matanos l’evyonim and giving tzedakah on Purim by saying that the main miracle of Purim was done in the “Upper Realm”, and Klal Yisroel was saved without the need for any merits in the “Lower Realm” of this world. Therefore, every year on Purim we arouse the source of this holiness through giving money and gifts to the poor people – the creations who are in need of help – as well as by giving gifts to our friends and loved ones. When we engage in acts of giving in this world, we arouse Hashem’s middah of giving in the Upper Worlds, which is the source of the Purim miracle, and this arouses Him to give us more and more.
Arousing Rachamim and Bringing Close the Geulah:
The pasuk states (Shemos 30:16): “And you shall take the money of atonement (hakippurim) from the children of Yisroel...and it will be for you as a remembrance before Hashem.” The Tiferes Shlomo (Rimzei Purim) writes that this is a hint to the greatness of giving tzedakah on Purim. The pasuk can be understood to be saying to take the money “of Purim” and to give it to the poor, and, in this way, to be remembered by Hashem and to arouse His mercy and compassion.
