The Promises of Jewish Tradition Printed with permission from "The Chesed Boomerang" by Jack Doueck www.judaicapress.com The Rabbis go as far as to say (Tanna Deve Eliyahu Zuta, Chapter 4): If you have given charity, you will acquire possessions. If you have acquired possessions, give them as charity while they are still in your hands... If you do not use them for charity they will soon depart, as it is said (Prov. 23:5): “Shall your eye make it fly away and be gone?” The book of Proverbs (21:21) promises: “Whoever pursues tsedaka and chesed shall find life, prosperity and honor.” The Torah further states (Deut. 15:10): “You shall surely give him and your heart shall not be grieved when you give him, for because of this, the Lord, your God will bless you in all your work...” A Talmudic saying rewards acts of tsedaka with wise and wealthy children: (Bava Batra 9b): “Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: He who does charity habitually shall have sons, wise, wealthy and versed in the Aggadah. ‘Wise’–as it is written (Prov. 21:21) ‘Whoever pursues tsedaka and kindness shall find life’... ‘Wealthy’ — as it is written (Ibid) ‘He shall find prosperity’...” The book of Psalms promises rewards to those who give tsedaka. A verse in Psalms (37:26) states clearly: “Since, all his days, he was gracious, lending to others, thus his children will be blessed”. Return to 'Our Tradition' Menu