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Sefer HaMiddot, Charity, Part II

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א. עַל יְדֵי נִאוּף נוֹפֵל לִתְפִיסָה אוֹ לָחֳלִי כְּאֵב רַגְלַיִם. גַּם תַּלְמִיד שֶׁלֹּא הִגִּיעַ לְהוֹרָאָה וּמוֹרֶה, נוֹפֵל לָזֶה,. גַּם מַזִּיקִין שׁוֹלְטִין עָלָיו. סְגֻלַּת הַצְּדָקָה לְבַטֵּל כָּל אֵלּוּ הָעֳנָשִׁים.

The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986

Sexual immorality leads to incarceration or pain in one’s legs. A student who, despite being unqualified, instructs others, will also be punished with one of these afflictions, and he will be placed at the mercy of harmful forces. Giving charity is a segulah for nullifying these afflictions.

ב. הַתּוֹרָה וְהַמַּעֲשֵׂר וְהַשַּׁבָּת הֵם נוֹתְנִים חַיִּים גַּשְׁמִיִּים גַם כֵּן.

The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986

Studying Torah, giving tithes, and observing Shabbat provide material benefits as well.

ג. עַל יְדֵי צְדָקָה בְּסִבָּה קַלָּה הוּא מַכְנִיעַ אֶת אוֹיְבָיו, וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַצִּילוֹ מִסִּבּוֹת גְּדוֹלוֹת שֶׁל אוֹיְבָיו.

The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986

By giving charity, a person can defeat his enemies through minimal means [and effort], as God will save him from even their greatest means [and effort].

ד. לְסַיֵּעַ לְתַלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים, בָּזֶה מְבַטֵּל הוֹרָאַת הַכּוֹכָבִים וּמַזָּלוֹת.

The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986

Helping a Torah scholar nullifies the dictates of the stars and constellations.

ה. עַל יְדֵי מְפַרְנְסֵי עֲנִיִּים נִצּוֹלִין הֲמוֹן עַם מִן הַמַּגֵּפָה בִּזְכוּתָם. גַּם בִּזְכוּתָם מֹחִין דְּגַדְלוּת קוֹדְמִין לְמֹחִין דְּקַטְנוּת.

The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986

The merit of those who support the poor saves the masses from plague. Also in their merit, expanded consciousness precedes [rather than follows] constricted consciousness.

ו. עַל יְדֵי צְדָקָה מַמְתִּיק הַדִּין שֶׁל לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא, הַיְנוּ יוֹם הַדִּין שֶׁלֶּעָתִיד לָבֹא.

The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986

Giving charity mitigates the harsh judgment destined for the Future, that is, for the Day of Judgment in the future to come.

ז. אֵלּוּ גּוֹמְלֵי חֲסָדִים הָעוֹשִׂים חֶסֶד, וְלִפְעָמִים גּוֹרְמִים עִם הַחֶסֶד לְרָעָה, וְעוֹשִׂים עַצְמָן כְּאִלּוּ אֵינָם רוֹאִים הָרָעָה, הַצּוֹמַחַת מֵחַסְדָּם, וְזֶהוּ בְּחִינַת הָאַזְהָרָה שֶׁהִזְהִיר לַכֹּהֲנִים, בְּחִינַת חֶסֶד שֶׁלֹּא יַפְסִיעוּ פְּסִיעָה גַסָּה, עַל יְדֵי זֶה גּוֹרְמִים, שֶׁהַדִּין שֶׁלְּמַעְלָה, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, אֵינוֹ בִּמְתִינוּת. וְכֵן לְהֵפֶךְ כְּשֶׁמְּדַקְדְּקִים בְּחַסְדָּם, שֶׁלֹּא יִצְמַח רָעָה, עַל יְדֵי זֶה הַדִּין בִּמְתִינוּת.

The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986

There are those whose acts of kindness sometimes have a negative effect. This corresponds to the warning given to the Kohanim— who personify the aspect of lovingkindness—not to take large steps [while performing the Temple service]. When people pretend not to see the harm brought on by their kindness, they cause the harsh judgment from on high to be without moderation. The inverse is also true. When care is taken that no harm comes from their kindness, it fosters moderation in the judgment.

ח. מְחַדְּשֵׁי אוֹרַיְתָא צְרִיכִין לִלְמֹד קֹדֶם הַחִדּוּשׁ פּוֹסְקִים וְגַם אַחַר כָּךְ, וְהַלִּמּוּד פּוֹסְקִים הוּא הַשְּׁמִירָה שֶׁל הַחִדּוּשִׁין, שֶׁלֹּא יִגַּע בָּהֶן זָר. גַּם כְּשֶׁרוֹצֶה לַעֲשׂוֹת צְדָקָה, צָרִיךְ. לַעֲשׂוֹת כֵּן כְּמוֹ בְּחִדּוּשִׁין.

The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986

Those who would reveal original Torah insights must study the Codifiers beforehand and then again afterwards. This study of Torah law will protect their insights from foreign influences. The same procedure should also be followed when a person wants to performs some act of charity.

ט. הַחִדּוּשִׁין דְּאוֹרַיְתָא וְהַצְּדָקָה, כָּל אֶחָד מְעוֹרֵר אֶת חֲבֵרוֹ.

The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986

Originating Torah insights arouses the giving of charity, and vice versa.

י. גָּדוֹל כֹּחַ הַמַּעֲשֵׂר, שֶׁמְּהַפֵּךְ הַקְּלָלָה לִבְרָכָה.

The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986

So great is the power of tithing that it can turn a curse into a blessing.

יא. עַל יְדֵי מַעֲשֵׂר נִתְבַּטְּלִים הִרְהוּרֵי זְנוּת.

The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986

Tithing eliminates immoral thoughts.

יב. הַגּוֹמֵל חֶסֶד, אֵין צָרִיךְ לִזְכוּת אָבוֹת.

The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986

A person whose deeds are filled with kindness has no need of ancestral merit.

יג. עַל יְדֵי גְּמִילוּת חֶסֶד בָּא לַאֲרִיכוּת יָמִים.

The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986

Doing favors for others brings a person long life.

יד. יֵשׁ תְּפִלּוֹת שֶׁאֵינָם נִתְקַבְּלִים לְמַעְלָה אֶלָּא עַד שֶׁנּוֹתְנִים כָּל כָּךְ מָעוֹת לִצְדָקָה כְּפִי מִסְפַּר הָאוֹתִיּוֹת שֶׁל הַתְּפִלָּה הַשַּׁיָּךְ לְזֶה הַדָּבָר. לְמָשָׁל, כְּשֶׁמִּתְפַּלֵּל אֵלּוּ הַתֵּבוֹת: "תֵּן לִי בָּנִים", צָרִיךְ לִתֵּן צְדָקָה כְּמִסְפַּר אוֹתִיּוֹת "תֵּן לִי בָּנִים".

The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986

Certain prayers are accepted on high only after sufficient money, equivalent to the number of letters in the relevant prayer, is given to charity. For example, when a person prays, “Give me children,” he must contribute the sum equal to the letters of these very words.

טו. עַל יְדֵי צְדָקָה זוֹכֶה לְבָנִים.

The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986

By giving charity one merits having children.

טז. מִי שֶׁהוּא מְפַרְנֵס אֶת הָרַבִּים, עַל יְדֵי זֶה מַמְשִׁיךְ הַבְּרָכָה מֵאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל לְחוּץ לָאָרֶץ.

The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986

Whoever provides support for many people draws a blessing from the Land of Israel to the Diaspora.

יז. עַל יְדֵי הַמָּמוֹן שֶׁנּוֹתֵן לַעֲנִיֵּי אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, עַל יְדֵי זֶה מָמוֹנוֹ נִתְקַיֵּם בְּיָדוֹ.

The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986

One who gives charity to the poor people of the Land of Israel will prosper monetarily.

יח. כְּשֶׁאָדָם בָּא לְעִיר לָדוּר, יִשְׁלַח בָּשָׂר לַעֲנִיֵּי הָעִיר, וְעַל יְדֵי זֶה יִשָּׂא חֵן בְּעֵינֵי שָׁרֵי הָעִיר.

The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986

When a person moves to a new place, he should distribute meat to the poor inhabitants there. Doing so will earn him favor in the eyes of the town’s officials.

יט. עַל יְדֵי נְתִינַת שְׁקָלִים נִצּוֹל מִיֵּצֶר הָרָע.

The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986

Giving Shekalim saves a person from the evil inclination.