The Virtue of Charity to those who toil in Torah on the Holiday of Shavuot

Section 1

On the holiday of Shavuot, one must support [hold the hand of] those who study Torah more than all the days of the year.

The Foundation of the World and its Fullness Is its maintenance through the Torah [Note: The first Hebrew letters of this phrase—י'סוד ה'עולם ו'מלואו ה'וא—form an acronym for the Divine Name, Y-H-V-H]. And therefore, on this festival, the holiday of Shavuot, one must support [lit. hold the hand of] those who study Torah, more than all the days of the year.

And it seems that it will be understood with what the Rabbi [author of] Chemdat Yamim wrote, etc. And since the sanctification of the day is the aspect of the two tablets of the covenant, in the secret of Netzach [Eternity/Victory] and Hod [Splendor/Majesty], one must give and support those who study Torah on this holy holiday. For he who supports Torah scholars—making firm tottering knees (Isaiah 35:3)—they share the aspect of the two thighs of truth, as it is written in the Holy Zohar.

If so, this is [the meaning of] its saying: "And you shall make the holiday of Shavuot to Hashem your L-rd, the tribute of a freewill offering of your hand, which you shall give according as Hashem your L-rd blesses you" [Deuteronomy 16:10], because the essence of the holiday of Shavuot is to do charity and loving-kindness, and specifically with those who toil in Torah.

Tochachat Chaim • Rabbi Chaim Palagi • Holiday of Shavuot

Section 2

Why on the holiday of Shavuot does one need to give charity, and specifically to those who toil in Torah?

It can be explained and a reason given why on the holiday of Shavuot one needs to give charity, and specifically to those who toil in Torah: For behold, they said in [Tractate] Shabbat, page 88, "From here is a great notification to the Torah, and they returned and accepted it in the days of Ahasuerus, as it is said, 'they fulfilled and accepted'—they fulfilled what they had already accepted."

And since regarding Purim it is written, "and sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor" [Esther 9:22], if so, on the day of the Giving of the Torah, we ought to do similarly to it.

There is a reason for the matter on its own (independent of the comparison to Purim) as we say: "Anyone who engages in Torah and does not engage in acts of loving-kindness is like one who has no L-rd". If so, the time causes [demands] engaging in both of them; both of them together are good, for as one they dwell—Torah and acts of loving-kindness, and specifically with those who toil in Torah, and it is clear.

Tochachat Chaim • Rabbi Chaim Palagi • Holiday of Shavuot

Section 3

They need to be like Issachar and Zebulun, in the likeness of twins, therefore the Torah was given in this month, which is the zodiac sign of Gemini [twins].

Behold, many indeed are the reasons why the Torah was given in the month of Sivan. And one of them is that its constellation is Gemini [twins], etc. According to what has been said, if there is no one who holds the hand of those who study the Torah, behold, what will become of the Torah?

If so, they need to be like Issachar and Zebulun, in the likeness of twins. Therefore the Torah was given in this month, which is the constellation of Gemini, so that it will be for a reminder between our eyes that the existence of the Torah is impossible unless the two walk together.

Tochachat Chaim • Rabbi Chaim Palagi • Holiday of Shavuot

Section 4

I mentioned their names so that from them they [others] will see and so will do, each man from his place.

Remembered for good is the benefactor, the exalted sage, R.Z.V Yosef Tzadika [the Righteous], the man of [the] High Priest, of blessed memory, that among his charities which he used to do, he would distribute a large sum to all the inconspicuous Torah scholars on the eve of the holiday of Shavuot with joy and with gladness of heart; happy is he and happy is his portion, mighty in the land shall be his seed [descendants].

Also my relative, the exalted sage, from those who fear Hashem and think upon His name, our honorable teacher and rabbi Moshe, son of our honorable teacher and Rabbi Yitzchak Pardo, of blessed memory, set aside some money according to his ability and made them a consecrated endowment fund to distribute from their fruits [profits] to certain needy Torah scholars on this holy holiday, may his soul be bound in the bond of life.

And I mentioned their names so that from them they [others] will see and so will do, each man from his place.

Moed LeChol Chai • Rabbi Chaim Palagi • Holiday of Shavuot