Igrot Kodesh · Letter 991 — Tzedakah

By the grace of Hashem,
27 Nissan 5711,
Brooklyn, New York,

To the leaders and donors of the association for Maos Chittim*[1], Fall River, Massachusetts, may Hashem grant them long life,

Greetings and blessings,

I received, before Pesach*, through the Rav, distinguished chassid* who has yiras Shamayim* and multiplies positive accomplishments, Rav Meshulam Zalman HaKohen Schachter, your participation in the Maos Chittim*[1], and you will find enclosed the receipt for it.

I thank you to transmit my congratulations and my blessing to the donors, the leaders, and the members of their families.

Maos Chittim* are linked to the proclamation made at the start of the celebration of Pesach*[2]: "Whoever is hungry, let him come and eat; whoever is in need, let him come and observe Pesach*"[3].

Thus, even before beginning the Seder*, we affirm that we will satisfy the needs of all those who experience them. It is only after this that the Seder* can begin. It is in this manner that we can have the merit to celebrate a true "time of our liberation."

This, then, is what one accomplishes with tzedakah* in general and Maos Chittim* in particular, which bring to oneself much more than to others. It is, indeed, in this manner that one frees oneself from material and spiritual worries, that each one in particular lives a true "time of our liberation," just as, very soon and in our days, we will know collective liberation.

Then Hashem will make us leave galus* through our righteous Moshiach*, who will bring us the true and complete redemption.

With my blessing for all good, materially and spiritually,

Notes
[1] The tzedakah destined to satisfy the specific needs of the festival of Pesach. See letters no. 967, 968 and 980.
[2] At the start of the Seder.
[3] See letters no. 982 and 983 on this subject.