Ekev ~ the circumcision of our hearts

(1) ערלת לבבכם [YE SHALL CIRCUMCISE] THE FORESKIN OF YOUR HEART — This means: ye shall remove the closure and cover that is on your hearts, [which prevent My words gaining entrance to them] (cf. Rashi on Exodus 6:12 and Leviticus 19:23).

(16) Cut away, therefore, the thickening about your hearts and stiffen your necks no more. (17) For Adonai your God is God supreme and Lord supreme, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who shows no favor and takes no bribe, (18) but upholds the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and befriends the stranger, providing him with food and clothing.— (19) You too must befriend the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

And Rabbi Ḥama, son of Rabbi Ḥanina, says: What is the meaning of that which is written: “After the Lord your God shall you walk, and Him shall you fear, and His commandments shall you keep, and unto His voice shall you hearken, and Him shall you serve, and unto Him shall you cleave” (Deuteronomy 13:5)? But is it actually possible for a person to follow the Divine Presence? But hasn’t it already been stated: “For the Lord your God is a devouring fire, a jealous God” (Deuteronomy 4:24), and one cannot approach fire. He explains: Rather, the meaning is that one should follow the attributes of the Holy One, Blessed be He. He provides several examples. Just as He clothes the naked, as it is written: “And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skin, and clothed them” (Genesis 3:21), so too, should you clothe the naked. Just as the Holy One, Blessed be He, visits the sick, as it is written with regard to God’s appearing to Abraham following his circumcision: “And the Lord appeared unto him by the terebinths of Mamre” (Genesis 18:1), so too, should you visit the sick. Just as the Holy One, Blessed be He, consoles mourners, as it is written: “And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed Isaac his son” (Genesis 25:11), so too, should you console mourners. Just as the Holy One, Blessed be He, buried the dead, as it is written: “And he was buried in the valley in the land of Moab” (Deuteronomy 34:6), so too, should you bury the dead.

And God is close to the pleas of the poor as it says "thou hearest the pleas of the poor." Therefore one must be wary of [making them] cry out for they have a deal cut with them [and God] as it says " and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto Me, that I will hear; for I am gracious."

(3) All the ones that are merciful to the poor, the Holy One Blessed Be He is merciful to them. RaMA Note: And the man should take it to heart that he should request every hour of his livelihood from the Holy One Blessed Be He, and like that he requests of this from the HKBH, so should he hear the pleas of poor men. Also he takes it to heart that what goes around comes around in the world, and end of the man that will come him or his son or his grandson are the ones in this state, and all the mercy he has shown to others, the Merciful one will have upon him.

(1) Every person if obligated to give charity, even a pauper who is reliant on charity is obligated to give from what is given to him. One who gives less than what is fit for (him) to give, the court would force him and whip him lashes of rebellion until he gives what they evaluated he should give. They go to his property in his presence and take what is fit for him to give.

And there is a negative commandment in one who turns his eyes away, as it is said: “You shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand” (Devarim 15:7). And all who avert their eyes are called wicked, and it’s as if their worship is idol worship.

One who gives charity to a poor person with bad grace, and his face in the ground (i.e. with a bad attitude) , even if he gave a thousand gold pieces he has destroyed his merit and lost it, rather [we must] give with a cheerful expression and gladly, and commiserate with him about his troubles as it says "If I have not wept for him that was in trouble, and if my soul grieved not for the needy" (Job: 30:25) and speak gracious and comforting words to him as it says "and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy." (Job: 29:13)

Charity should be given with a pleasant countenance, with happiness and good-heartedly, sympathizing with the poor person over his plight and speaking comforting words to him. If someone gives with an angry and scowling face he has lost his merit. 4 If a poor person requests [charity] and he has nothing to give him, he should not rebuke him and raise his voice, but say appeasing words and show good-heartedly that he would like to give but that he just can not afford to. NOTE: "It is forbidden to turn away a request empty-handed. He can even give the smallest amount, as it says 'Do not let the oppressed retreat disgraced.'"

(1) The amount one should give [is as follows]. If one can afford it, he should give according to the needs of the poor. If one can not afford so much, he should give up to a fifth of his wealth - that is the best [way of performing] the mitzvah. A medium way is to give a tenth. Less than that is stingy. Giving a fifth that was referred to, means from one's overall assets the first year, and from then on giving one's profits annually. NOTE: "A person should not give more than a fifth so he should not be dependent on others. This is during his lifetime, but when he is about to pass away he can give as much charity as he wishes. A person should not use his charity to perform mitzvot such as [giving] candles to the synagogue etc., but he should give it to the poor."

(12) And if you do obey these rules and observe them carefully, Adonai your God will maintain faithfully for you the covenant that God made on oath with your fathers: