A Short Tribute

The attribute of charity is known to be great, so much so that our teachers, of blessed memory, said that redemption from exile follows from it, as it says, “…and those that return with her in righteousness (tzedakah: righteousness, charity)”. Should you ask, how does it differ from other commandments in the Torah, the reply lies in what has been conveyed to us: A transgression "extinguishes" a mitzvah, yet no transgression can extinguish the mitzvah of charity, for it says “His righteousness abides forever”. As we know, “they were redeemed during Nissan, and will be redeemed in Nissan in the future”. On the New Moon of Adar, therefore, (the commandment of) sheqalim is announced and heard by all, calling to fulfill the mitzvah of charity and, by virtue of its fulfillment, hasten the arrival of the redemption. For it atones for sins, as it says in the Book of Daniel, “Redeem your sins by beneficence”; we therefore read the Reading Portion of Sheqalim, to indicate this. We follow with the Zachor Reading Portion, about the eradication of Amaleq, for it is by virtue of charity that the name of Amaleq will be erased, as was Haman, who came from that seed. The Reading Portion of Parah follows…since it atones for us by virtue of the charity we do during the month of Adar, so does the Red Heifer. These are the reasons for which we will merit redemption speedily in our day during this month of Nissan…and this is the reason why (we read the) Reading Portion HaHodesh before the New Moon of Nissan – to tell them (the community) to prepare themselves for redemption by repenting. And so that they do not despair of the redemption arriving, we read the HaHodesh Reading Portion, to say: Just as the month is renewed every New Moon, thus will the People of Israel be renewed in the future.