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The Right Attitude when Giving Tzedakah

The mitzvah of giving tzedakah should be done in good spirits and besever panim yafos (with a smiling countenance), besimchah (with happiness). Certainly not with an unhappy face, which is a transgression of the mitzvah of “Velo yeira levavcha besitcha lo” (Do not let your heart feel bad when you give him).  Moreover, it is a grave prohibition to yell at a poor person. It says that the Arizal would give tzedakdah besimchah gedolah (with great joy). The Midrash tells us that we get a special schar (reward) for saying kind words to the poor person when we give them tzedakah; “Ki biglal hadavar hazeh yevarechecha Hashem Elokecha” (Because of this Hashem will bless you). The use of the word “hadavar” connotes speaking—Hashem blesses us specifically for our kind words. In fact, if we can’t give money, we should be mefayes bidevarim, say kind, comforting words, and show empathy to the poor person by smiling, as well as indicate that we very much regret that we are unable to give them tzedakah.

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