The value of charity is known, especially when [the charity] is given to a Torah scholar. As it is brought: The money that is given to a Torah scholar is the aspect of “support for Torah” (Zohar III, 53b).
Indeed, this money that we give to a Torah scholar is an aspect of Torah, literally. No transgression can cancel this money given to a Torah scholar. As our Sages, of blessed memory, said: Transgression cannot extinguish Torah (Sotah 21a). This money is thus literally an aspect of Torah, as explained above.
There is much more to this matter. For when [Rebbe Nachman] revealed this, he told some story connected with it, but we merited to record only these things.
מַעֲלַת הַצְּדָקָה יָדוּעַ, בִּפְרָט כְּשֶׁנּוֹתְנִין לְתַלְמִיד־חָכָם, כַּמּוּבָא, שֶׁהַמָּעוֹת שֶׁנּוֹתְנִין לְתַלְמִיד־חָכָם הוּא בְּחִינַת תַּמְכֵי אוֹרַיְתָא.
The value of charity is known, especially when [the charity] is given to a Torah scholar. As it is brought: The money that is given to a Torah scholar is the aspect of “support for Torah” (Zohar III, 53b).
אֲבָל בֶּאֱמֶת זֶה הַמָּעוֹת שֶׁנּוֹתְנִין לְתַלְמִיד חָכָם הוּא בְּחִינַת תּוֹרָה מַמָּשׁ, וְאֵין עֲבֵרָה יָכוֹל לְכַבּוֹת זֶה הַמָּעוֹת שֶׁנּוֹתְנִין לְתַלְמִיד־חָכָם, כִּי אֵין עֲבֵרָה מְכַבָּה תּוֹרָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (סוטה כא), וְזֶה הַמָּעוֹת הוּא בְּחִינַת תּוֹרָה מַמָּשׁ כַּנַּ"ל.
Indeed, this money that we give to a Torah scholar is an aspect of Torah, literally. No transgression can cancel this money given to a Torah scholar. As our Sages, of blessed memory, said: Transgression cannot extinguish Torah (Sotah 21a). This money is thus literally an aspect of Torah, as explained above.
וְזֶה: מָעוֹת – רָאשֵׁי־תֵּבוֹת: וְאֵין עֲבֵירָה מְכַבָּה תּוֹרָה.
Thus, MAOT (money) is an acronym of “V ’ein Aveirah M’khabeh Torah (but transgression cannot extinguish Torah).”
וְעוֹד יֵשׁ בְּעִנְיָן זֶה דְּבָרִים הַרְבֵּה, כִּי בְּעֵת שֶׁגִּלָּה זֹאת סִפֵּר אֵיזֶה מַעֲשֶׂה בְּעִנְיָן זֶה, אַךְ לֹא זָכִינוּ לִכְתֹּב כִּי אִם דְּבָרִים אֵלֶּה:
There is much more to this matter. For when [Rebbe Nachman] revealed this, he told some story connected with it, but we merited to record only these things.