Our Gemara on Amud Aleph tells us:

⁦And Rabbi Levi said: Anyone who leaves from the synagogue and goes to the study hall or goes from the study hall to the synagogue, i.e., he goes from the mitzva of prayer to the mitzva of Torah study or vice versa, merits to receive the Divine Presence, as it is stated: “They go from strength to strength, every one of them appears before God in Zion” (Psalms 84:8).

This phrase “merits to receive the Divine Presence” or, in Hebrew, זוכה ומקבל פני שכינה is a particular benefit that gets conferred for certain activities. They are mention in regard to three more activities:

  • Looking at the Tzitzis and remembering all the mitzvos (Menachos 43b).
  • Giving charity to a destitute person (Bava Basra 10a)
  • Being careful to not let one’s eyes wander and gays at forbidden lustful images. (Derech Eretz 1:13).

What is the connection in these four practices? It would seem to me, the idea is consistent attachment to God. So starting with our Gemara, we are describing a person who in his daily activities goes from one holy place to another, seemingly without interruption. An easy tie in To this, is the person who while he was walking from one place to the other is careful not to let his eyes wander toward lustful objects. And, of course this is very much related to the Tzitzis, who’s function or to remind us of all the mitzvahs, but as the verse in Shema that discusses tzitzis says as well, “ do not stray after your heart and your eyes.“

We have connected three out of the four. What is the connection to giving charity to a poor person? I believe they are saying that a person who is so devout and attached to God may be tempted to walk to the street and not pay attention to the sufferings of others. Therefore, the final criteria involves despite being attached to God and being careful we are one looks, there also is a requirement to notice other people. And if one comes across somebody who is impoverished, to stop and help.



Translations Courtesy of Sefaria, except when, sometimes, I disagree with the translation cool

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