Responsa for Bava Batra 17:15

אמר רבא האי מילתא אישתעי לי עולא

R. Assi said: A man should never neglect to give the third of a <i>shekel</i> [for charity] in a year, as it says, Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a <i>shekel</i> for the service of the house of our Lord.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Neh. x, 33. If for the repair of the Temple, a fortiori for charity. ');">¹²</span> R. Assi further said: Charity is equivalent to all the other religious precepts combined; as it says, 'Also we made ordinances': it is not written, 'an ordinance', but 'ordinances'. R. Eleazar said: He who causes others to do good is greater than the doer, as it says, And the work<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H] taken in the sense of 'causing others to do righteousness'. ');">¹³</span> of righteousness [<i>zedakah</i>] shall be peace,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And not righteousness (i.e., charity, or those who give charity) itself. ');">¹⁴</span> and the effect of righteousness quiet and confidence for ever.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Isa. XXXII, 17. ');">¹⁵</span> If a man is deserving, then shalt thou not deal thy bread to the hungry,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Isa. LVIII, 7. ');">¹⁶</span> but if he is not deserving, then thou shalt bring the poor that are cast out to thy house.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. The reference is to tax-collectors, [H] (E.V. 'cast out') being connected with root [H] 'to rule', v. infra. ');">¹⁷</span> Raba said to the townsfolk of Mahuza: I beg of you, hasten [to the assistance of] one another, so that you may be on good terms with the Government. R. Eleazar further said: When the Temple stood, a man used to bring his <i>shekel</i> and so make atonement. Now that the Temple no longer stands, if they give for charity, well and good, and if not, the heathens will come and take from them forcibly. And even so it will be reckoned to them as if they had given charity, as it is written, [I will make] thine exactors righteousness<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. LX, 17. ');">¹⁸</span> [<i>zedakah</i>]. Raba said: The following was told me by the suckling

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