Maimonides, of blessed memory, wrote the Halakha on gifts to the poor, in these words: "There are eight levels of charity, each greater than the next. The greatest level, above which there is no greater, is to support a fellow Jew by endowing him with a gift or loan, or entering into a partnership with him, or finding employment for him, in order to strengthen his hand until he need no longer be dependent upon others etc."
This is what is meant by "Charity is greatest for it hastens the redemption". Meaning to say, the greatest charity – that is, strengthening those immigrating from the Diaspora so that they may earn a livelihood – is what hastens the redemption.
And Jerusalem can only be redeemed through this great charity, as it is said "Zion will be redeemed by justice." The RadaK [Rabbi David ben Yosef Kimchi, 1160 – 1235] interpreted this as: justice – this means commandments between man and his fellow man. That is, Zion will be redeemed by [observing the] commandments between man and his fellow man.
That is, to strengthen the hands of the weak and reinforce failing knees, to provide them with employment and craft so that they may earn a livelihood, for if there is no livelihood there is no redemption, as our Sages of blessed memory said: "Greater is livelihood than redemption", for redemption is by an angel – as it is said, "And He sent an angel, and brought us forth out of Egypt", and livelihood is by the Almighty – as it is said, "Thou openest Thy hand, and satisfiest every living thing with favour".