Question:
Question:
Is there a source for the widespread custom to give a lot of charity specifically on Purim and no other day of the year, some even giving away 10's or even 100's of thousands of dollars.
Answer:
Hello,
The reason why people give an extra amount of tzedakah on Purim, is because Purim is one of the days during the year that we give extra tzedakah. One of the reasons for this is because there is a mitzva of matanos levyomin,(to give presents to the poor). The poskim say that of all the various mitzvos that we spend a lot of money on, on Purim, ( the festive meal, and mishloach manos), that the mitzva to spend the most on is to give tzedakah, “ as there is no greater joy to Hashem[1] than gladdening the hearts of the poor widows and orphans”. Aside from that there is an idea on Purim that when people ask for tzedakah we give them, and in that merit, Hashem will answer our tefillos and request, that we ask from him. It is for these reasons, that people give a lot of their tzedakah money specifically on Purim.
Best wishes
Sources:
[1] רמב"ם הלכות מגילה וחנוכה פרק ב הלכה יז
מוטב לאדם להרבות במתנות אביונים מלהרבות בסעודתו ובשלוח מנות לרעיו, שאין שם שמחה גדולה ומפוארה אלא לשמח לב עניים ויתומים ואלמנות וגרים, שהמשמח לב האמללים האלו דומה לשכינה שנאמר +ישעיהו נ"ז+ להחיות רוח שפלים ולהחיות לב נדכאים
