On today’s incredible powerful episode we discuss tzedakah, perhaps the hallmark of the Jewish people. “Charity” commonly means alms, gratuitous benefactions for the poor. The giver of charity is a benevolent person, giving when he need not. He does not owe the poor anything, but gives because of his generosity.
“Tzedakah” has a completely opposite meaning. Instead of connoting benevolence, it is the idea of justice — that it is only right and just that one gives tzedakah. There are two reasons for this:
(i) A person is obligated to give to another, for the money is not his own. G‑d has given the money to him on trust, for the purpose of giving it to others.
(ii) G‑d is not beholden to man, yet gives him what he needs. A Jew must act in the same way, indeed is obligated to: he must give to others although not beholden to them. In return, G‑d rewards him in like manner. Because he has transcended his natural instinct and given when not beholden, G‑d in turn grants him more than he is otherwise worthy of receiving.