Giving charity is known to effect character change and health of mind body and soul. By the giving of charity the heart is opened to receive Divine Light and wisdom, and be filled with thankfulness, kindness & love. As Rabbi Nachman explains, the greed of money melts by the act of charity. This greed for money is likened to idol worship (as can be seen by the statement - In "G-d" We Trust, on the American dollar – in the "G-d" of money - the idol that people worship over values of family love, charity and social and physical health). So Rabbi Nachman explains to us that the actual giving of charity is the hammer that shatters this idol with our hearts, and we must break the viscous cycle of miserliness that prevents us giving to others while destroying our heart and soul.

The great sage 'Ha'admor Hazaken' (Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Leidi) explains in his masterpiece the holy 'Tanya' that giving charity draws divine light which clothes the bodily soul and penetrates the body to cause healing and purification. The organs involved in giving the charity, receive the light (the hand that gives and the feet that walk to the beggar), and even greater than this, all the organs that were used to work to make the money that is given to charity also receive light, for they too are involved in the giving. This is great Divine wisdom that were revealed to us, in order that we know how important this Mitzva is. We are advised to never turn away a begging hand (if we can afford to) and it is known:

"The house that is closed to the begger is open to the doctor."

Of course it is stated by the righteous King Shlomo (solomon) the wisest of all men (Proverbs - משלי):

צדקה תציל ממוות

Charity will save from death.

Of course this is also referring to spiritual death, for miserliness and greed is the greatest spiritual cholesterol and is more dangerous for the heart than any food or cigarettes. On the contrary - charity, giving with a whole heart is a great healing practice, more so than many forms of 'health programs.'

And further Shlomo Hamelech tells us (Proverbs 19 - משלי יט):

מלוה ה' חונן דל וגמלו ישלם לו

He who loans to Hashem (to Hashem's creations), that he gives to the destitute, he will be re-compensated [back for his charity].

Rashi, the holy commentator of the ancient texts explains there a very vital explanation: "When he who gave charity will be sick and will be close to death, his charity (that he did with the poor) will come and testify i front of the (Heavenly) judgement and says 'the soul of the destitute was suffering and about to leave him due to his hunger, and this person sustained it (with his charity) and returned it (the destitute's soul) to its body, so will I (says his charity) – so will I return his soul to him!” to the person who is his death bed! Amazing!

And Mishlei also explains to us:

בחסד ואמת יכופר עון

With kindness and truth sin shall be atoned.

So after we explained the correlation between suffering and sin, we can see how charity saves from death and relieves suffering, in its atonement for sin. Atonement for sin leads to removal of suffering.

Now let us explore the meaning of the word 'Tzeddaka'. Tzeddaka is the Hebrew word for charity. However the word Tzeddaka means more than just giving to the needy. The word Tzeddaka stems from the word 'Tzeddek.' the word 'Tzeddek' means justice, or righteousness. From this we know that the act of giving to the poor is an essential part of the path to becoming righteous. The aspect of justice that is involved in the process of giving charity must be clearly explained. In Jewish law we are commanded, to do justice in the world, by giving a tenth (10%) of our earnings to charity (after tax) and up to 20% (if one can afford it). This is to do justice. We are the channels chosen for this abundance to come to the world in order to give it to those who need it. We are chosen to have the merit to bestow 'chessed' (kindness) on others. Kabballa explains that Divine light is clothed in the form of chessed- kindness- and the money is a physical manifestation of this Divine kindness. We are therefore channels for divine light, which flows through us and to those who need it- through the medium of the money. In this we are healing ourselves by having this divine light flow through us (in the form of money) and this causes healing of body mind and soul. For this reason we received it! Because we need the healing and Hashem has given us the method by which to heal - by giving this portion (and more if we can) to the needy. It is actually taught by the sages:

"More than the rich person gives to the poor the poor gives to the rich."

In other words, really the poor who is taking the money is actually giving to the rich, giving merits and causing health – spiritual and physical.

It is important to understand that really, this money is not ours. Hashem says 'I am giving you a certain amount of money as your income, yet 10% of it is not yours, and you must pass it on to those who need it." That is the condition. If one does not fulfill their obligation by giving 10% of their income to charitable causes one is stealing from Hashem. One is taking what is not theirs. For this 10% is not our money. In this way, G-d forbid, blockages occur in the spiritual flow, that translate to blockages in physical health and disease manifests. With all being said, if a person does not have enough from his earnings to sustain his household, he is exempt from giving a tenth. It is praiseworthy however to write down 10% of each earning and when Hashem restores that person's financial abundance, to give it then.

So remember:

"The house that is closed to the beggar is open to the doctor!"

Aside from fulfilling this law that was Divinely set in order to bring justice and peace in the world and heal our souls and bodies, the giving is actually a joyous process and if one is sensitive one can feel the heart opening in thankfulness for life and to Hashem, and love for Hashem and his creations.

There are many worthwhile causes to donate to. The righteous…the poor, and the ill needing healing.

In addition to giving the regular donations, we should understand and always be aware, that when we are approached, as discussed earlier in the section of Hashgacha Pratit, Divine providence, we should see that the person approaching us with a request, whether a poor person in the street or to our door, or a friend wanting a loan - they are all messengers from Heaven to help them rid ourselves of the money, and harsh judgments along with it, open our heart further and help in our spiritual advancement. This giving will surely work some sort of healing and salvation that we need right now on some level. This is why this agent of Hashem came as this time, and we should give to the best of our abilities with a whole heart, a smile and a blessing. In addition to this, it is good practice to always have some coins in the pocket to give to an outstretched hand in need along our travels. Rabbi Shimon the Tzaddik says that the doing of kindness is one of the three pillars of the world. Help strengthen them, by giving wholeheartedly & with love.