Midrash Tannaim-Deuteronomy 16:20 - B

Another teaching: Justice, justice you shall pursue - one might think one is not to give charity unless (people) were to come and ask you to give; But this is incorrect. From where do we know that if (people) were not to come and ask you to give charity that you should go after them and give? Talmud teaches us Justice, justice you shall pursue. What is written after that (i.e. in Scripture, Deut. 16:20) is, "that you may thrive and inherit the land" ; This does not say that the [tzedakah] must come from your own hand, rather when one comes to you [seeking tzedakah]; if you [tell the person] to go and to request from others to do tzedakah and accompany them, it is considered as if you yourself gave, as it says, Justice, justice you shall pursue, pursue tzedakah and after good deeds. What reward do you get for this? "One that pursues after justice and mercy finds life, prosperity, and honor." (Proverbs 21:21) [Translation by Rabbi Rachael Bregman and Henry Resnick. Edited for gender neutrality and clarity]