Questions for today:
We are beginning an undertaking to understand, what is the inner notion of Charity?
What can take two things that are each defined by not being the other; unmeasured giving, and analytical specificity – and have them work together?
We will work to achieve an inner understanding of the concept of charity, with two tools from a verse from Isaiah;
We will look at charity’s reward, which will help us understand what it's about, and also at the distinctive descriptions in the Torah.
Isaiah says that the ‘act’ of charity will bring ‘peace’ and the ‘service’ of charity will bring ‘tranquility’ and ‘security’ forever.
What are these different things?
Let’s start by understanding ‘peace’.
Peace is not a compromise where everyone gives up a little bit.
Peace is when two opposite things come together productively.
Kindness, which is like water which goes down to give everybody without distinction, and Judgment, which is like fire which goes upwards. Judgment steps up and says, I need to check the recipient’s merits -
They come together with ‘mercy’. This is where you analyze the recipient - and give it anyway.
How does this work?
Throughout the Torah, the most sublime name for the Creator is the name that symbolizes the Creator’s Mercy.
When we use this name, we're invoking the inner ‘undefined’ aspects of the Creator - but within a ‘defined’ world so that these opposite characteristics can work together - productively.
256 36 Tanya Chitas thought for Elul 8 ~ m276 30 Elul 6
Tanya book 4, Essay 12, pt2
Study today’s Tanya in full:
https://www.chabadmed.com/dailystudy/tanya.asp?tdate=9/2/2022
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