BS”D
Tzedakah & Children
Top 10 reasons to have kids &
young adults give tzedakah, Daily.
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by MaZeH
1) “Tzedakah outweighs all other Miztvot[1]”.
Although children under the age of bar/bat mitzvah are not generally obligated in giving Tzedakah (unlike other mitzvot) none the less as part of Chinuch[2], we educate children to do so earlier on in life in order to accustom them to this pivotal mitzvah (and all mitzvot of Gemilas Chasadim in general as well)[3].
2)”Great is the power of Tzedakah because it brings closer the Geulah”[4].
We all ask Hashem multiple times a day in our tefillot to bring Moshiach now and to usher in the Geulah, by giving Tzedakah we bring the Geulah faster (see additional quotes in the sources below).
2) “Rabbi Elazar would give a coin (charity) to a poor man, and only then would he go pray”[5].
Our sages OBM have established in the daily liturgy as a prerequisite for our prayers to be answered to recite the following: “I herby accept upon myself to love my fellow (Jew) as myself”. Giving charity takes that concept one step further by actualizing, practically, this love for our fellow. Furthermore, many Tzaddikim and Anshei Maaseh would give charity on a daily basis, especially before prayer[6].
3) “If a man gives a coin to a poor man, he is rewarded and experiences the appearance of the Shechinah”.
“R. Dusthai b. Yannai lectured: Come and see how the manner of the Holy One, blessed be He, is not as the manner of human beings. When a human being brings a present to the king, there is a doubt whether it will be accepted or not; and if it be accepted, whether he will see the king. But the Holy One, blessed be He, is not so; if a man gives a coin to a poor man, he is rewarded and experiences the appearance of the Shechinah; as it is written[7]: "And I, in Tzedek (righteousness) shall I behold thy face...”
4) “Even a poor man who lives off Tzedakah should himself give Tzedakah”[8].
The Gemorah then goes on to say that in the merit of this mitzvah the giver will no longer have to live off Tzedakah. Perhaps, we can say the same is true of children. Although they have no earnings of their own, what they get or what they are given from their parents or others is theirs, and although they are not obligated as of yet in mitzvot, giving away what is rightfully theirs is not only commendable but a prize worthy act. (Which brings us to #5.)
5) “Tithe your earnings so you should become rich”[9].
Although children don’t work and therefore don’t have a steady income, one day they will and by encouraging them to perform this mitzvah you are in turn educating them and making them accustom to doing so when they grow older. There is an amazing story told which is told in the talmud:
“R’ Yachanon came across the young child of Resh Lakish (his nephew) and asked him to repeat the verse he had been studying. The boy replied, “Aser T’aser, you shall definitely tithe.” The boy then asked “what is the significance (of the repetition) Aser T’Aser”? R’ Ychanaon replied (to the boy),”tithe, so that you may acquire wealth (tisasher)”. The boy asked, “How do you know?” Rabbi Yochanon replied (to the boy), “Go and try!” The boy said, “Is one allowed to test G-d” for it is written: “You shall not test the almighty!”
R’ Yochanan replied, “This is what R’ Hoshiah said: “This maser is an exception; because the verse[10] states: “Bring all the maser into the storehouse that there should be food in my house, and test me in this, says the lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you, and pour you out a blessing until there is more than sufficient.”[Explaining this young boy that, we may indeed test G-d when it comes to 10% to Charity].
From here we clearly see two things. One) R’ Yachanon was talking to a boy…and two) the return for giving Tzedakah is soo great. [Although there are some commentaries[11] who explain that he was telling the boy, ”that when you get older you shall tithe your earnings”, the simple explanation is as quoted.]
7) The word Tze-da-kah derives from the word Tze-dek – the higher and loving divine justice which “entitles” each creature to receive what it needs. The word tzedakah therefore conveys the message that helping someone in need is not just an act of love[12]; it is also an act of justice[13]! As we already mentioned, as we educate children & youngsters we try to teach them about selflessness and responsibility to society and their neighbors. By encouraging them to give Tzedakah we are in turn educating and perhaps training them to give back to society, and to assist in perpetuating their community and Klal Yisroel[14].
8) “No person ever becomes impoverished from giving Tzedakah, no evil consequences or damages ensue from it, as evidenced from the verse[15] “And the deed of Tzedakah will lead to peace”.
Perhaps, by encouraging youngsters to give Tzedakah this will lead them toward acting more peacefully in the interim and in the long term as well.”[16]
9) “He commanded his sons and household after him to do Tzedakah and Mishpat [17]”
Some say[18], that we don’t need the torah to tell us all of the above, as it is and should be obvious and the natural instinct of each and every human being to want to go in “the way of justice and righteousness”. No mitzvah is needed for this. For this is the nature of a father, (or educator and the like[19]) as the Torah explicitly tells us concerning Avraham, “he commanded his sons and household after him to do Tzedakah - righteousness and Mishpat - Justice. Not only as our Patriarch and cornerstone of the Jewish faith but as a natural father he did so.
10) “Actions of Tzaddikim are everlasting”
The Rebbe of Lubavitch ZT”L would always gather thousands of children multiple times each year and amongst other mitzvoth would give Tzedakah to & with them. In addition, children would come to him on a weekly basis and he would give Tzedakah to & with them. Actions of Tzaddikim are a lesson for all to learn from some times even more than what is in the written law[20].
[1]Tractate Baba Basra 9a | See also Avos 1:2,8: Concerning Charity being the foundation of the world. Then see: Sefer Sharay Halacha Uminhag p.169:14:
“Moshe received the Torah from Sinai and passed it on to…including Men, Women and Children…and then it goes on to state: “The world stands on three things…”, implying the children’s responsibility in these three things as well.
[2]Ekev 11:19 | Tractate Nazir 29:1 | Tractate Chagigah 24:1 | VaEschanan 6:7 | See also Ramban there | Semag Mitzvah 12 | Mishlei 22: 6 | Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim: Sec. 343:2.
[3]See also Orchos Tzadikim 17: Concerning the extent of this practice.
[4]Tractate Baba Basra 10a | See also Tehillim 136:7: | and Isaiah 1:27 | Also see Isaiah 56:1| Also see: Tractate Sanhedrin 97b: Concerning Charity brining the Geulah. See also Rambam Hilchos Matnas Aniyim Sec. 10| Then see: Tanya, Igeres HaKodesh Epistle 9: “…when the approaching footsteps of Mashiach are close upon us, the principle service of G-d is charity.”
[5]Tractate Baba Basra 10a.
[6]See Tractate Eiruvin 41a: The practice of a Nasi or R’B’Y- a leader and or head of the Jewish people is what gives power to the Jewish people to perform those acts.
[7]Tehillim 17:15 | 103:17 | 112:4 Then see: Tanya, Igeres Hakodesh Epistle 8.
[8]Tractate Gittin 7a, Maimonides, Matnas Aniyim 7;5
[9]Tractate Taanit 9a, Medrash Tanchumah 18, Ohr Zarua 13,
[10]Malachi 3;10
[11]BenYehoyada on the Daf.
[12]Devarim 15:7,8
[13]Vayikra 25:35
[14]Tanya, Igeres Hakodesh Epistle 9
[15]Isaiah 32;17
[16]Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah Ch 27
[17]Vayeira 18:19
[18]See Shaarei Halacha Uminhag p. 210 |Then See: Tractate Kesubos 22a, and see the Pnei YeHoshua there and Tractate Berachos 35a
[19]See Shulchan Aruch 343
[20]See footnote 6.
Definition Index.
Tzedakah = Charity
Mitzvot = Commandments of the Torah
Chinuch= The Education Process
Hashem = G-d Al-mighty
Geulah = Redemption/Messianic Era
Moshiach = The Righteous Redeemer
Mitzvah = Precept/ Biblical Commandment
Tzaddikim = Leaders of World Jewry
Anshei Maaseh = Pious Men
Gemorah = Babylonian Talmud
Teffilot= Daily Prayers
Shechinah =Divine Presence