Charitable Deeds (tsedaqah)

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Next, there are the charitable deeds. Judaism is a religion based on deeds, with special emphasis on acts of charity, these deeds of kindness could be considered a most important process of atoning for one's sins.

Throughout the Tanakh, we are taught about the importance of acts of charity. The giving of tsedaqah is an important precept in the Torah,

Deuteronomy 15:7-8

(7) If there is among you a poor man of one of your brothers inside any of your gates in your land which YHWH, your Elohim gives you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother;

(8) But you shall open your hand wide to him, and shall surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he lacks.

This commandment isn't limited to charitable acts exclusively toward Jews.

In the Tanakh, the command to love, to befriend, to be kind toward a stranger is mentioned at least 36 times, and most often the command is linked with the phrase, "for you were a stranger in the land of Egypt",

Leviticus 19:34 - "But the stranger who dwells with you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt;" I am YHWH, your Elohim.

Deuteronomy 10:19 - Love you therefore the stranger; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

This message on acts of charity, good deeds, kindness and their importance of echoed many times throughout the Tanakh.

Micah 6:6-8

(6) With what shall I come before YHWH, and bow myself before Elohim on high? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with year old calves?

(7) Will YHWH be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

(8) He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does YHWH require of you, but to do justice, and to show loving-kindness, and to walk humbly with your Elohim?

Proverbs 16:6 By loving kindness and truth iniquity is purged; and by the fear of YHWH men depart from evil.

Daniel 4:24

Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you, and break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; that there may be a lengthening of your tranquility.

Moreover, there is also no illusions as to what the Tanakh teaches about which process is preferable,

Jeremiah 7:21-23

(21) Thus says YHWH of Hosts, the Elohim of Israel; Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices, and eat meat.

(22) For I did not speak to your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices;

(23) But this thing I commanded them, saying, 'Obey My voice, and I will be your Elohim, and you shall be My people; and walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.'

Hosea 6:6
For I desired loyal love, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of Elohim more than burnt offerings.

Proverbs 21:3
To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to YHWH than sacrifice.

Sincerity and charitable actions are superior to sacrificial offerings.

Isaiah summarizes the message concerning the atonement process in a most concise fashion in the opening chapter of his book.

Isaiah 1:11-18

(11) "To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?" said YHWH; "I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of male goats.

(12) When you come to appear before Me, who has required this at your hand, to trample My courts?

(13) Bring no more vain offerings; incense of abomination they are to Me; as for new moons and Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies, I cannot bear iniquity along with solemn meeting.

(14) Your new moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; they are a trouble to Me; I am weary of enduring them.

(15) And when you stretch out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; and, when you make many prayers, I will not hear; your hands are full of blood.

(16) Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes; cease to do evil;

(17) Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the orphan, plead for the widow.

(18) Come now, and let us reason together," said YHWH; "though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

Any sacrifice, without repentance is worthless. Keeping of Sabbaths and Holy days means less than nothing with an unrepentant or rebellious heart.

So, recognizing that with the ability to exercise our free will means we all are have the capacity to commit transgressions, a path to righteousness and salvation that is based on repentance, prayer and good deeds is specified. This formula is contained in the Tanakh, and it does not include the shedding of blood as a requirement for the atonement of sin.

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