And he (Avraham) believed in HASHEM, and He accounted it to him as (TZEDAKA) righteousness. (Breishis 15:6)

And he (Avraham) believed in HASHEM: He did not request of Him a sign regarding this, but regarding the inheritance of the land, he did request of Him a sign, and he said to Him, “How will I know?” – Rashi

Here is one of those episodes in Jewish history that, had the Torah not told us, it would have gone unnoticed under the radar of human consciousness. There was a direct dialogue between HASHEM and Avraham regarding his having children. HASHEM had just promised Avraham that his children would be like the stars. He believed HASHEM. His heart was now quieted and settled. Avraham uttered not a word. HASHEM reads the heart of Avraham and considers that Avraham has done Tzedaka. With (W)whom did Avraham do Tzedaka?

If I did not hear this from one of my Rebbeim, I would be afraid to say it aloud. Avraham is considered to have done Tzedaka with HASHEM. How can we do Tzedaka with HASHEM? HASHEM is all-knowing and perfect beyond every measure of perfection. True, HASHEM knows everything and because that is so, there is something that a person can do that HASHEM, so to speak, cannot do for HIMSELF, and that is to trust and believe in HASHEM. That is what a man can offer HASHEM.

Emuna is not a blind belief of the unknown. It is an unshakable loyalty and self-trained obedience to what one knows to be absolutely true. The Talmud in tractate Makos, boils the Torah down to a single principle, stated by the Prophet Habakuk, “TZADIK B’EMUNASO YICHIA” – “The Tzadik lives by his EMUNA”. (Habakuk 2:4) King Solomon, the wisest of all men writes, “Many people are called a man of kindness, but a reliable man (ISH EMUNIM) who can find!?” (Mishlei 20:6) Not easy to find that dutiful and reliable person.

His accomplishments are amplified when done in private, in the secrecy of his heart, again as Shlomo HaMelech spells out, “A gift in private (Rashi says it refers to Tzedaka) covers over anger.” (Mishlei 21:14) The silent belief and trust that settled in Avraham’s heart when HASHEM promised him a future, created a heavenly storm. The Torah tells us! He performed a hidden act of Tzedaka by accepting completely and absolutely what HASHEM had told him.

As children of Avraham, this power resides within each and every one of us. Let us take for example number 12 of the 13 fundamental principles of belief, “I believe with a perfect (EMUNA) trust in the coming of Moshiach, and even though he may be delayed, I await his arrival every day.” What do we accomplish by hoping for something scripted in the future? Amongst the advantages and benefits of anticipating Moshiach, even if it does not come to fruition today or the immediate future, is that it breathes meaning into all we do. We understand that what we are witnessing and experiencing is not theatre of the absurd. Nothing is random. “SOF D’var HaKol Nishma” – “In the end everything counts…” (Koheles 12:13). We are not a passive audience! We are the players on center stage. We know this playwright. In the end we will be shown how every thread of our existence is woven like a beautiful and ornate tapestry into a giant Havdala candle with a great and holy flame on top.

We believe that all of history will come to a meaningful and glorious conclusion. Like that, we live with hope every day. This is what keeps us advancing since the time that Avraham was told Lech Lecha, start and keep on going. This dogged loyalty and devotion to our personal and national mission is Emuna in motion. That we quietly and consistently continue to continue, in spite of and in the face of many seemingly insurmountable obstacles, is a giant collective and individual accomplishment and also the ultimate Tzedaka.