Mitzvah —
251
Not to withhold charity from the poor
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כִּֽי־יִהְיֶה֩ בְךָ֨ אֶבְי֜וֹן מֵאַחַ֤ד אַחֶ֙יךָ֙ בְּאַחַ֣ד שְׁעָרֶ֔יךָ בְּאַ֨רְצְךָ֔ אֲשֶׁר־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ נֹתֵ֣ן לָ֑ךְ לֹ֧א תְאַמֵּ֣ץ אֶת־לְבָבְךָ֗ וְלֹ֤א תִקְפֹּץ֙ אֶת־יָ֣דְךָ֔ מֵאָחִ֖יךָ הָאֶבְיֽוֹן׃ - פָּרָשַׁת רְאֵה
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Deuteronomy 15:7 - "If there will be among you a needy person, from one of your brothers in one of your cities, in your land the Lord, your God, is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, and you shall not close your hand from your needy brother."
This Mitzvah's Summary
מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Charity – צְדָקָה
It is forbidden to withhold charity from the poor or refuse to help those in need.
This mitzvah prohibits closing one’s hand or heart to the poor. It is not enough to simply avoid harm — one must not resist generosity when confronted with need. The Torah addresses both the inner attitude (“do not harden your heart”) and outward action (“do not shut your hand”), teaching that withholding charity is both a spiritual and social failing.
Commentary & Classical Explanation:
- Rambam (Hilchot Matanot Aniyim 7:2): Rules that refusing to give when one has the ability to do so violates this mitzvah. Withholding support is considered cruelty and a denial of Hashem’s will.
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 480): Explains that the mitzvah refines character, training us away from selfishness and cultivating empathy.
- Talmud (Ketubot 68a): States that failing to provide for the needy is like shedding blood, since their survival may depend on communal support.
- Rashi (Deuteronomy 15:7): Stresses the dual language — heart and hand — to teach that both intention and action must align in generosity.
Commentaries
(Source: Chabad.org)
Applying this Mitzvah Today
Notes on this Mitzvah's Fundamentals
Faith – אֱמוּנָה
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 480) explains that refusing to give denies Hashem’s providence. Faith means recognizing that wealth is entrusted to us for sharing, and that withholding charity reflects a lack of trust in Divine blessing.
Charity – צְדָקָה
- Rambam (Hilchot Matanot Aniyim 7:2) rules that withholding when one has the ability violates Torah law. This mitzvah complements the positive command (Mitzvah 250), making charity both an obligation to act and a prohibition against neglect.
Compassion – רַחֲמִים
- Talmud (Ketubot 68a) states that one who refuses to give is as though he sheds blood, since the poor may rely on this support for survival. Withholding charity is therefore cruelty, while giving cultivates mercy.
Justice – צֶדֶק
- Rashi (Deuteronomy 15:7) emphasizes that the Torah forbids both “hardening the heart” and “shutting the hand.” Justice requires aligning intention and action, ensuring fairness in how resources are shared.
Kindness – חֶסֶד
- Acts of charity are also expressions of chesed. Rambam (Hilchot Matanot Aniyim 10:4) stresses that giving with a smile and gentleness counts as chesed in addition to tzedakah, while withholding creates pain and humiliation.
Community – קְהִלָּה
- This mitzvah builds social responsibility. A society where charity is withheld fragments, while one where needs are met thrives in solidarity and trust.
Humility – עֲנָוָה
- Rambam (Hilchot Matanot Aniyim 10:7) teaches that giving should be done with humility, acknowledging that we are merely stewards of Hashem’s blessings. Refusal to give reveals arrogance and self-centeredness.
Bein Adam L’Chavero – בֵּין אָדָם לַחֲבֵרוֹ
- Withholding charity is a direct violation of interpersonal responsibility. This mitzvah refines character by forbidding selfishness and obligating us to open both our hand and our heart to others.
