Likutei Moharan, Part II 4:9/ליקוטי מוהר"ן·תנינא ד׳:ט׳

19. Charity is beneficial in this regard. Giving charity rectifies and reverses the harm caused by the fallen days and daat of elders, those with length-of-days who are unworthy. The Serpent’s Brow feeds off this [lack of wholeness]. This is as in “Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it” (Ecclesiastes 11:1)—the power of charity is found “after many days,” namely, with those who have length-of-days. Giving charity reverses and rectifies the blemish they engender.

2This is the meaning of “Cast your bread upon the waters”—i.e., give charity. The verse guarantees that the money you lose by giving liberally to charity, you will regain and find “after many days”—in those with length-of-days. This is because giving charity reverses the blemish of the fallen daat of those with length-of-days, from which the Serpent’s Brow feeds. We remove all sustenance and vitality from the Serpent’s Brow/determinism, and so the Brow of Divine Will grows stronger.

3As discussed above, the essential devotion of charity is “And I have commanded the ravens [to feed you],” i.e., the initial need to break cruelty and transform it into compassion. From this itself Divine Will grows more influential, for from the very forest itself comes the ax (Sanhedrin 39b). By overcoming one’s instinctive heartlessness and turning it into compassion, vexation is turned into favor.

4And then, once the Serpent’s Brow is overcome and the Brow of Divine Will is revealed, the sound of the wild animals <is quieted> and the festival’s proclamation, the revelation of Divine Will, is heard, as discussed above. The revelation of Divine Will then leads to the fear of Heaven, as discussed above. Fear of Heaven makes it possible to receive lovingkindness, as discussed above. And when lovingkindness descends, we will not have to engage in any labor or work. “Foreigners will stand and pasture your flocks… And you will be called ‘priests of God’” will then be fulfilled, as discussed above. All this is achieved by giving charity. It follows, that the benefit of giving charity is very great.