Tzedakah Before and During Shacharis

The Rebbe taught: “One should give charity before praying in order to be saved from foreign thoughts. Thus one will daven properly, without veering to the right or left (i.e. toward chesed or gevurah). Rather, one will prepare his words with balance (mishpat, the principle that intervenes between chesed and gevurah).”
(Likkutei Moharan I, 2; cf. Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chaim 92:10)

*

Reb Noson darshans on the relationship between the korbonos and tzedakah and how the ru’ach nedivah, spirit of giving, breaks the idolatry of wealth. Therefore, reading the passages that describe the korbonos and giving tzedakah are both part of davening.
(Likkutei Halakhos, Aveidah U-metziah 3:3, citing Likkutei Moharan I, 13)

*

In Sefer ha-Middos, the Rebbe stated that before davenning, one should give tzedakah and bind himself to the tzaddikim of the generation.
(Sefer ha-Middos, “Tefillah” I, 33)

*

He also said that upon reaching the words in Pesukei de-Zimra, ‘Vi-ha-osher vi-ha-kavod mil’fanekha, ve-atah moshel ba-kol . . . Wealth and honor are before You, and You rule over all,’ one should again give a coin to tzedakah in order to internalize the spirit of charity. (This custom is not unique to Breslov, but is mentioned in the Shulchan Arukh and elsewhere.)
(Likkutei Moharan I, 67:7; cf. Likkutei Halakhos, Choshen Mishpat, Aveidah u-Metziah 3:3; cf. Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chaim 92:10; Sha’ar ha-Kavannos, ‘Inyan Tefilas ha-Shachar. Rabbi Chaim Vital states in the name of the ARI zal that one should give three coins of any denomination, first two separately, and then the third. Rabbi Pinchas of Koretz states that if all Jews would give tzedakah at this point in Shacharis, Moshiach would surely come; Imrei Pinchos [Bnei Brak 2003] Vol. I, Sha’ar Seder ha-Yom 79.)

*

The Rebbe greatly praised tzedakah, “which brings a spirit of peace and love into the world in abundant measure. “
(Likkutei Moharan I, 57:7, 67, et passim.)

*

The Rebbe encouraged his followers to give tzedakah “with both hands,” adding that when one does so, his prayer will be heard above.
(See Sefer ha-Middos, “Tefillah” I, 45; “Tzedakah” I, 27)

Reb Gedaliah Kenig understood this simply to mean that we should give generously. However, because of this remark, many Breslover Chassidim are accustomed to actually hold the money they are giving with both hands.