Daily Pledge®;
Introduction
The Daily PledgeTM can open the door to spiritual connection for everyone – offering both universal access and an individually unique sense of belonging to a larger whole.
The Daily Pledge is based on the three pillars of the world as expressed in Pirke Avot, Wisdom of Our Fathers, which quotes Shimon HaTzaddik – Shimon the Righteous – as saying, “The world stands on three things: Torah, the service of G-d (prayer), and deeds of kindness.”1 Not only does
the world stand on these three pillars – so do you, because G-d put the world in every person’s heart. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
That means your very being rests on the same three pillars that uphold the world, an intimate connection with the Divine. The Daily Pledge encourages that connection through a simple, five minute-a-day morning routine: Make a donation, that’s tzedakah or kind deeds. Say the Shema and a private prayer if you like, that’s tefilla. Spend two or three minutes in Torah study using a book such as Daily Wisdom that presents daily increments so you can learn from and enjoy the Torah.
Throughout the centuries, Judaism’s sages have explored these three pillars, broken them down into their component parts, probed their meaning, explored their important messages and impact, and diligently tried to explain how they connect with each human being on every level.That connection is based on faith and knowledge. It is emotional and intellectual, heart and mind. This emotional fulfillment and sense of security lift each person privately, at his or her own pace – especially given the inspiration of daily practice. However, Daily Pledge participants may also seek a more linear understanding and connection based on Judaism’s most revered spiritual texts, as presented in brief in this White Paper.
Obviously, scholars have written vast libraries about the commandments to perform tzedakah, tefilla and Torah study, so this paper can be only an appetizer that may open the door to a feast, a small sample of the learning available in Jewish thought and study. This is an attempt to offer a glimpse of the inner power of each pillar – made tangible in the Daily Pledge. This practice uses clear, replicable daily actions to connect participants to their own spirituality, to a larger community of people of faith, and to the heavenly Father who cherishes every kind deed, listens to every voice in prayer, and embraces every effort to study Torah.
The Daily Pledge opens the door to a great gift: connection with G-d through action and faith. “The act of performing commandments is the critical element that touches and affects our inner being,” Rabbi Sholom B. Lipskar explains. “In the Jewish life cycle, we start with action…The act of performing commandments is the critical element that touches and affects our inner being, which in turn affects behavior.”2
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1 Pirke Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) 1:2
2 Rabbi Sholom B. Lipskar, “Recipe for Successful Behavior Modification, The Two Souls,” Chabad.org/library/tanya/tanya_cdo/aid/1281948/jewish/Recipe-for-Successful-Behavior-Modification.html
Those who participate in the Daily Pledge are joining a community of people who are individually and collectively on a path to draw closer to G-d, in an easy-to-execute way that doesn’t overwhelm the message. This is not an ordinary commitment; it is a daily routine that ignites the spirit and provides immediate and lasting spiritual empowerment. It’s true as written that “a little light dispels a lot of darkness.”3
Now, let’s look at how these three pillars work, how holy writings cite them, how scholars and Jewish authorities regard them, and how they connect human beings to the Almighty.
Part 1: Tzedakah – Loving Kindness
The word “chesed,” meaning tzedakah or loving kindness, appears in the Torah 245 times, and some two-thirds of these mentions of chesed speak of G-d’s character and actions.4 Charitable deeds are a mainstay of Jewish life. The multiple mentions of chesed indicate the deep importance of charity and deeds of loving kindness. “Chesed is a primary attribute of G-d.” And, one way “to become closer to Him is to emulate Him in any way you can.”5
The rewards for giving tzedakah are not bound by the dollars one gives. The act of generosity is the point. The book of Proverbs (Mishleh) says that truth is the reward for tzedakah. And, the Talmud Yerushalmi, which refers to tzedakah as “the Commandment,” calls it equal to all other mitzvahs and actions, and promises you that when people give tzedakah, their “whole soul ascends to G-d.”6
Two verses in Devorim (Deuteronomy) command us to offer two kinds of charity. Devorim 15:7 declares, “You shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your needy brother.”7 This statement tells us to provide for the poor, particularly a poor neighbor or relative. “It is the will of G-d that we emulate Him by demonstrating compassion and goodwill toward those who are in need of it most.”8
The very next verse, Devorim 15:8 commands, “You shall open your hand wide to him.”9 Thus giving tzedakah isn’t just doing a good deed; it is fulfilling a responsibility.10 The Shulchan Aruch, the book of Jewish law, calls on Jews to give away one-tenth of their income. To make the Daily Pledge part of your giving, keep a small coin box (a pushke) on your desk. You can dedicate the contents to your favorite charity or decide how to bestow this gift once some funds accumulate. That will happen more quickly than you might think.11 Tanya speaks in favor of daily tzedakah – except on Shabbat and Jewish holy days – saying, “Every coin adds up
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3 King Solomon in Ecclesiastes 2:13
4 Dr. Alan Morinis, Path of the Soul, #7: Loving Kindness, Aish HaTorah.
https://www.aish.com/sp/pg/48909002.html
5 Rabbi Yanki Tauber, compiler, Charity: An Anthology, Chabad.org
6 Talmud Yerushalmi 177
7 Rabbi A.Y. Kahan, The Taryag Mitzvos (Keser Torah Publications, Brooklyn, NY, 1988) 282 8 The Taryag Mitzvos 282
9 The Taryag Mitzvos 283
10 The Taryag Mitzvos 282
11 The Taryag Mitzvos 284
to a great amount.”12 Indeed, as Tanya says, “the quantitative act of tzedakah brings about peace.”13
The act of giving benefits the giver on multiple levels. When you perform a daily act of kindness in the form of your donation, however modest, you’re helping yourself immeasurably, igniting the three pillars that uphold the universe and fill your heart, and beginning the work of repairing the world. Such acts of loving kindness bring light, clarity, wisdom and blessings from above. Giving tzedakah before praying makes one a better receptacle and more prepared for prayer – like a peace offering.14
Part 2: Tefillah – Prayer
The Daily Pledge calls for saying the Shema, a foundational blessing that covers both of the major themes of prayer: praising G-d and asking for what we need. The mitzvah of prayer is stated in the Torah, in Devorim 10:20, as “Him you shall serve,” and it is echoed in the Gemara as “serve Him with all your heart.”15
Prayer that praises G-d is avodah. Prayer that beseeches G-d is called avos tikum, and it evokes Rambam’s call to prayer, which was, “When you go out to battle against your enemies…blow your trumpets.”16 Prayer provides everyone with a trumpet; every human being can praise the Almighty and ask Him for help. The door to G-d is open, every day, all the time. That is why, as part of the Daily Pledge, participants are encouraged to add a few words of private prayer from their heart after they say the Shema, perhaps a word of gratitude, or perhaps a request to heal an ailing relative, guide a struggling teen or solve a thorny problem.
Just as Aaron brought the Jewish people to G-d through prayer, the Daily Pledge can help those in its community reach out to G-d based on understanding that “G-d is nearby; opening the lines of communication is entirely up to us.”17
Those who worry that G-d is out of their reach can hear the voice of Jeremiah 11:20 calling them closer, “Everyone that thirsteth, go ye to the waters.”18 Those who feel that former misdeeds block them from contact with the Almighty need to know that they, too, can pray with “spiritual vitality and enthusiasm.”19 Those who feel too troubled, too beset with problems, too shattered to believe they can gather themselves for prayer will find, instead, that prayer fortifies them. “Put your hope in G-d. Be strong and He will strengthen your heart.”20
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12 Tanya, Igeret Hakodesh, bilingual edition (Kehot Publication Society, Brooklyn, NY, 1981) 587 13 Tanya, Igeret Hakodesh 587
14 Tanya, Kutress Acharon 625-627
15 Gemara, Taanit 2a – Sefaria
16 Jeremiah, 11:20
17 Likutei Sichot, vol. 29, p 38. Daily Wisdom, Volume 2, Inspiring Insights on the Torah Portion from the Lubavitcher Rebbe (Kehot Publication Society, Brooklyn, NY 11213, 2018) 415
18 Jeremiah, 11:20
19 Likutei Sichot, vol. 3, p 925, Daily Wisdom 182
20 Tehillim (Psalms) 27:14, cited from: Psalms That Speak to You, Yitzchok Leib Bell, translator (Tehillim Today, 2018)
And those who are too busy, caught up in the whirlwind of daily busy-ness, will find that starting the morning with just five minutes of generosity, reflection and prayer enriches them from their core and makes their day calmer and more focused. As the psalm promises, “G-d is near to all who call to Him, to all who call to Him in truth.”21
When you carry out the Daily Pledge’s five-minute routine, you will find that praying itself – that spiritual connection – is life changing. As Lakewood Yeshiva’s mashgiah HaRav Mattisyahu Salomon wrote, “The very act of prayer…elevates, exalts and transforms us, so we are no longer the same people we were before.”22
The Shema is the essential statement of monotheistic faith, therefore you want to pray it with kavannah, “one’s intelligence, thought and intention.”23 The greater the kavannah, the greater the “illumination of the Supreme Will.”24 Having kavannah calls for understanding and thinking about the words you are saying.25 Reflect on the blessings and miracles you receive daily and offer gratitude. Try to clear your mind and envision that you are standing before G-d.26
As the Lubavitch Rebbe wrote in his discussion of Exodus10:1-11, “Our study and prayer can affect us and change us; it can take us out of our personal Egypt.”27 Contemporary “Egypts” vary from the onslaught of modern culture to the challenges of widespread pandemic. Prayer changes our perspective and gives us strength.
Those who participate in the Daily Pledge will learn not only the power and importance of prayer, but some details about how to pray. For instance, we should pray with our lips moving because action is greater than thought,28 and we should face toward Jerusalem.
Esther Stern, author of Just One Word: Emunah, explains, “If we devote time every day to thanking G-d for his abundant gifts to us, we will soon automatically find ourselves feeling very blessed. Our perspective will change from one of sorrow, anxiety, complaints, anger, bitterness and worry to one in which we are constantly perceiving Hashem’s kindness.”29
When we express our gratitude and make our requests, we are pursuing the promise given in Psalms, “Cast your problems on G-d – He will bear your burden. He will not let the righteous stumble for all time.”30 In this, nothing else is like prayer, “For prayer is uniquely able to draw
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21 Tehillim (Psalms) 145:18
22 Rabbi Hesky Kleinman, Praying with Fire: Igniting the Power of Your Tehillah, A 5-Minute Lesson a Day (Mesorah Publications, Ltd, Brooklyn, NY) Introduction
23 Tanya, Likutei Amarim 183
24 Tanya, Likutei Amarim 183
25 The Taryag Mitzvos 264
26 The Taryag Mitzvos 264
27 Sichot Kodesh 5740, Vol. 1, 843-845. Daily Wisdom, 118
28 Tanya, Likutei Amarim 169
29 Esther Stern, Just One Word: Emunah – Heartwarming and Inspiring Stories and Words of Chizuk to Strengthen Our Faith. (Artscroll/Mesorah, Brooklyn, NY, 2018) 60
30 Tehillim (Psalms) 55:23
down an infinite degree of G-dliness; prayer alone can bring about changes within the world, healing the sick and causing rain to fall.”31
Part 3: Torah Study
Jewish tradition has always valued scholarship and Torah study, but it doesn’t require a university classroom or an audience with a great sage or Rabbinic master. The Daily Pledge’s approach to Torah study is that, after giving tzedakah and praying the Shema, you allocate just two or three minutes to reading a short Torah lesson. If your goal is to connect with G-d, Tanya encourages you, “Each individual who sits by himself and occupies himself in the Torah, the Shechinah (G-d’s presence) is with him.”32
Studying Torah is “equivalent” to all the mitzvahs, and higher even than “concentration in prayer,” according to Mishnah, Peah 1:1. A Chabad Daily Tanya class notes, “Since Torah study involves mortal intellect, its heavenly echo calls forth a corresponding revelation of the Divine Intellect.”33 This idea taps into “the basis and the root of the entire Torah,” which “is to raise and exalt the soul” by reaching to Hashem, and “also to bring down the blessed light…upon the community of Israel.”34
Studying Torah is a mitzvah cited in the Shema and derived from Devorim 6:7, “And you shall teach them diligently.” It is a universal mitzvah that includes the duty to teach Torah to your children.35 That mitzvah is followed by this one, “and you shall speak of them…when you lie down and when you rise up.” That is interpreted as a command to say the first part of the Shema in the morning and to repeat it in the evening,36 but more broadly it is a call to study so you can learn and grow.
In his book Jewish Literacy, Rabbi Joseph Telushkin says that the practical side of the commandment to study is that communities must have schools and must give the poor free access to learning. In pre-printing press Medieval Europe, he reports, when almost everyone in the general public was illiterate, “nearly all Jews could read and write.” A monk who studied under Catholic theologian Peter Abelard, wrote, “a Jew, however poor, if he has ten sons, would put them all to letters, not for gain…but for the understanding of G-d’s law, and not only his sons, but his daughters.”37
The introduction to Chabad’s Education: An Anthology, explains, “Education is a life-long endeavor. Within our own selves…there is the ‘youngster’ and the ‘elder,’ our yesterday and our tomorrow, and the former must never cease to guide and instruct the latter. Within our own
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31 Rabbi Yeshoshua B. Gordon and Rabbi Manis Friedman, Daily Tanya,
Chabad.org/dailystudy/tanya.asp?tdate=11/18/2020
32 Tanya, Likutei Amarim 279
33 Gordon and Friedman, Daily Tanya
34 Tanya, Likutei Amarim 145
35 The Taryag Mitzvos 255
36 The Taryag Mitzvos 255
37 Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, Jewish Literacy (William Morrow and Co, New York, 1991) 556
selves, too, is a perpetual need to learn, develop and grow, to integrate the pillars of the world within us, to cultivate the seeds and saplings of our present potential into the trees and fruits of future achievement.”38
As the Lubavitcher Rebbe writes in Daily Wisdom (which Daily Pledge recommends as an excellent resource for daily learning offered in short essays), “Just as the physical food we eat nourishes our bodies, the Torah that we study and internalize nourishes our Divine Soul.”39
The Daily Pledge and the study of Torah are open to everyone: experts and beginners, professors and the barely educated, men and women, students and grandparents.40 And until what age should one study Torah? The Torah itself answers that question, “Even until the day of one’s demise.”41
And as you study, you will receive increasing comfort, praise and status, clarity and wisdom, even if you are alone at home doing the Daily Pledge and no one knows about your scholarship but you – and the One who sees everything.
Conclusion
Practicing the Daily Pledge turns up a person’s internal spiritual flame. And, as people participate, they evolve and change. “At any time and moment, a person is capable and free to rid himself of the spirit of folly and forgetfulness, and to recollect and awaken his love of the One G-d,”42 “which is hidden…in the heart of all Jews,”43 As the Torah says, this spiritual connection “is not in heaven…nor is it across the sea….Rather, the matter is very close to you, in your mouth and in your heart to do it.”44 Embrace the three pillars that uphold the world – and live in your heart – and make them your own.
In time, those who carry out the Daily Pledge may well come to influence others. Anyone can ascend to “the highest levels of spiritual attainment…by virtue of his or her merits. Businesspeople, manual workers, parents, students – none of us need think that we cannot engage in the in-depth study of Torah, pray with intense fervor, or spread Divine consciousness.”45 Thus, the soul-nourishing possibilities of embracing all three pillars of Judaism in the Daily Pledge are two-fold: the many positive effects on you and your positive impact on others.
And carrying out the Daily Pledge doesn’t take very long – just long enough to change your life.
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38 Rabbi Yanki Tauber, compiler, Education: An Anthology, Chabad.org
39 Daily Wisdom, 172
40 Telushkin, Jewish Literacy 556
41 Devorim (Deuteronomy) 4:9
42 Tanya, Likutei Amarim, 105
43 Tanya, Likutei Amarim 59
44 Devorim (Deuteronomy) 11:14
45 Daily Wisdom, 279