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Why does the Gemara (גמרא) compare one who averts his eyes from charity to an idolater? The shiur develops the revolutionary idea that giving to a poor person is literally giving to God, since every human embodies the divine image. This transforms tzedakah from interpersonal obligation into direct divine service.
This profound shiur analyzes a challenging Gemara (גמרא) that compares one who avoids giving charity to an idolater. Rabbi Zweig begins by examining the difficult language of the Gemara, particularly the phrase 'ma'alem ayin' (averting one's eyes), questioning why the text uses this specific terminology rather than simply stating 'not giving tzedakah.' He presents a fundamental dispute between the Rambam (רמב"ם) and the Tur regarding the interpretation of this comparison. The Tur understands that not giving tzedakah is literally like committing idolatry, while the Rambam reads it as referring to the character trait - that one who doesn't give tzedakah possesses the same character as an idolater. The shiur then develops a revolutionary understanding of tzedakah based on Rabbi Elazar's teaching that giving charity is greater than all sacrifices. Rabbi Zweig explains that while sacrifices are an anthropomorphic way of showing honor to God, giving to a poor person is actually giving directly to God, because every human being is created b'tzelem Elokim (in God's image). When we sustain another person, we are literally sustaining God's presence in the world through His divine image embodied in that person.
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Kesubos 68a
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