Early this week, Chana and I were leaving the house, and even before reaching the end of the driveway, we noticed something very wrong with our car. I stopped, and upon taking a quick look at the car, was shocked to see that the entire tire had fallen off the wheel. Of course, we were so thankful that this happened at that moment, and not G-d forbid, later, on the highway…
At the very instant, Chana and I together said “We need to give some Tzedaka (charity)! ” A beautiful idea that was taught to both of us from a young age is that after such an incident occurs, the very first thing you do is give some extra charity. Gratitude is to be expressed not only in words, but also in action. And there is no better way to do so than through giving charity, in which you pass on the blessing to someone else.
We normally associate giving charity with challenging times in which we are hoping for good results. But Tzedaka is also to be our expression of thanks after something positive occurs.
Charity is especially appropriate now during the period before Tisha B’Av. In fact, the closing words of this week’s Haftorah is Zion will be redeemed through justice, and those who return with Tzedaka (Isaiah 1:27)