Mivtza Tzedakah
| The Rebbe's Mivtzoim |
|---|
 |
| The Ten Mivtzoim |
| Tefillin · Torah · Mezuzah · Tzedakah · Bayis Molei Seforim · NeSHeK · Kashrus · Taharas Hamishpacha · Chinuch · Ahavas Yisroel |
| Various Mivtzoim |
| Mesibos Shabbos · Shofar · Lulav · Chanukah · Purim · Matzah · והשיב לב אבות על בנים · Lag BaOmer · Aseres Hadibros · Ois B'sefer Torah · Hakhel · Moshiach · Yom Huledes · הקהלת קהילות · Printing the Tanya · |
| V – T |
Mivtza Tzedakah is one of the ten Mivtzoyim (campaigns) that the Rebbe announced. The Rebbe announced this campaign in 1974.
As part of the campaign, the Rebbe called to raise awareness about the importance of giving tzedakah at every possible opportunity and to place tzedakah boxes in every possible location.
The Campaign[edit | edit source]
The Rebbe announced the campaign in the summer of 1974 together with the campaigns "Mivtza Torah", "Mivtza Mezuzah", "Mivtza Bayis Malei Seforim" and "Mivtza Neiros Shabbos Kodesh (NSHK)".
The purpose of this campaign is to spread the mitzvah of tzedakah, including through tzedakah boxes and similar means - because through fulfilling the mitzvah of tzedakah, a Jew receives the blessings of Hakadosh Baruch Hu who gives them like tzedakah, from His full, open, holy and generous hand.
The Rebbe requested that every home, store and similar place should have a tzedakah box. The Rebbe said this request applies even to those who donate large sums to gabbai tzedakah and the like, since the very existence of the box constitutes a great merit for those who maintain it.
One of the Rebbe's suggestions to Chassidim involved in the campaign was to print images of the other 'Mivtzei Hamitzvos' on the boxes, so that people looking at the box would be reminded of additional mitzvos.
The Rebbe testified about himself that he makes a habit of connecting everything with tzedakah.
In the farbrengen of Shabbos Parshas Korach 1974, the Rebbe gave a surprising instruction: "Regarding tzedakah boxes, it is advisable not to write for whom the tzedakah is intended, so people won't think we want to profit money etc., because there needs to be 'And you shall be clean before Hashem and before Israel'... and also do not write who is giving the box."
The Tzedakah Box[edit | edit source]
The Rebbe emphasized several times the importance of fixing the box to the wall of the house so it becomes part of the home, for several reasons:
- House of Tzedakah - The box becomes part of the house and room, making the house a 'Chabad House - a house of tzedakah'.
- 'You Shall See and Remember' - The box serves as a reminder about giving tzedakah. Additionally: since tzedakah is equal to all mitzvos and brings the geulah closer, seeing the box awakens thoughts about fulfilling all Torah mitzvos.
- Accessibility - Since it is customary to give tzedakah daily, and not every day presents an opportunity to give to someone in need, putting a coin in the box enables fulfilling the mitzvah in the most complete way daily.
The special importance of fixing the box to the wall can be seen in the sicha of Tzom Gedaliah 1989, where the Rebbe addressed a 'halachic' question about how to act when staying temporarily in another home regarding fixing the box. The Rebbe said: "They should attach a box to the wall of the house where they are staying in such a way that on Shabbos and Yom Tov it would be forbidden to remove it from the wall, thus making the box part of the house like a box fixed with a nail, but in a way that when they remove the box it won't leave a mark on the wall, and when they return home they should take the box with them and fix it in their home, thus retroactively revealing that the reason they didn't fix it earlier in their home was because they weren't at home."
Giving Tzedakah at Every Jewish Meeting[edit | edit source]
Based on the Frierdiker Rebbe's saying that when two Jews meet they should ensure their meeting brings benefit to another Jew, the Rebbe instructed: Wherever Jews gather they should fulfill this saying starting with the shlichus mitzvah of giving tzedakah. The Rebbe explained his choice of specifically the mitzvah of tzedakah because tzedakah creates unity between the giver and receiver, benefits the giver by fulfilling a mitzvah and creating a vessel for receiving blessing, and benefits the receiver by receiving the tzedakah. This was also the Rebbe's explanation for the purpose of his dollars distribution.
See Also[edit | edit source]
- Tzedakah Box
- Pledge