From the very beginning, Tzedakah was an essential part of the Alter Rebbe’s Avodas Hashem. Well before he became introduced to Chassidus, the Alter Rebbe and his wife used their sizable dowry to purchase land for Jews to settle on.
Throughout the years of his Nesius, the Alter Rebbe raised large sums of money for Tzedakah, while he lived a life of simplicity. Tzedakah was one of the foundations of Chassidus Chabad.
In 1788, the Alter Rebbe created ‘Colel Chabad,’ a special fund to help the Chassidim living in Eretz Yisrael. This required great effort and Mesirus Nefesh, and this support became part of the accusation that led to his arrest by the Czarist government. Today, Colel Chabad is the oldest continuously running charity for the poor in Israel.
After the passing of the Alter Rebbe, his children collected letters that he had written throughout his lifetime. Thirty-two of these letters were deemed so important that they were included in all future publications of the Tanya, becoming the fourth section of Tanya, Igeres Hakodesh.
The dominant theme of these letters is Tzedakah. In fact, nearly half the letters of Igeres Hakodesh deal with the topic of Tzedakah. The Alter Rebbe elaborates on the importance and significance of this special Mitzvah, and specifically the uniqueness of giving Tzedakah to the residents of Eretz Yisrael.
This Tuesday, 7 Av, we start Perek 3 of Igeres Hakodesh in the daily shiur of Chitas. It is also the first of 13 Perakim on the subject of Tzedakah. To coincide with this year’s Tanya learning, Colel Chabad is launching “Soulful Generosity, Tanya on Giving.”
These communal letters of the Alter Rebbe urge his Chassidim to give to Colel Chabad, the Tzedakah fund that he founded. In the words of the Frierdiker Rebbe, these letters “are fiery words – a warning and command for generations, and assurance of Brachos for children, life and a livelihood for ongoing generations.”
This initiative will be released as a series of classes from a variety of the most sought-after teachers in Chabad. Available in video format as well as audio, this presents a special opportunity to educate and inspire ourselves on this subject.
Watch a fascinating introduction By Rabbi Shais Taub.
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This is an incredible opportunity to connect to a source of blessing. G-d willing, when we study these letters with a bit of effort and apply them to action, we will merit to receive those blessings.
