The Gift of Giving: Tzedakah

THE GIFT OF GIVING

TZEDAKAH

Tzedakah ranks among the highest of Jewish ethical values, but it does not have any specific source in the Torah.  The word Tzedakah, justice, never appears in the Torah meaning gifts of money or support for the needy.  Rather the concept is everywhere throughout the Five Books.  Some examples:

·         God clothes Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:21)

·         Abraham offers hospitality to the passing strangers (Genesis 18:2-5)

·         “If there is a needy person among you… do not harden your heart and shut your hand against your needy kinsman…. Lest he call out to the Lord against you and you will incur guilt.” (Deuteronomy 15:7-11)

Our sages taught that one will never become impoverished from giving Tzedakah and that the obligation of giving tzedakah rests even on those who are supported entirely from public funds.  (Shulchan Arukh, Yore Deah 247:2)

Maimonides (1135-1204) famously summarizes the laws of Tzedakah into 8 degrees, the lowest of which is giving grudgingly and the highest of which is helping a person to succeed so they no longer need Tzedakah.

There are more ways to fulfill this mitzvah (commandment) that one can possibly mention.  Here are three ways to bring this into your home.

A) Shabbat Tzedakah Blessings – Before sundown on Shabbat, or whenever you begin Shabbat, gather the family and add your weekly donation to a family tzedakah box.  Once everyone has added their contribution, recite the following blessing:

·         Baruch Atah Adonai Elohainu melech haOlam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivany lirdof tzedek

·         Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, who makes us holy by your commandments and commands us to pursue justice.

B) Create a Family Tzedakah Collective – resolve to have a family meeting once every three months to discuss where to send your family’s donations.  Let every family member have a voice and a vote to decide what Jewish charities to support and what to support within the general community.  The web site: http://www.just-tzedakah.org/ offers reports on activities, finances and transparency of many agencies as well as a wealth of background on this mitzvah.

C) Find a project in the community – Can you help with driving those who need a ride to the doctor, help provide a meal for those who are hungry?  Can you help at the library on a literacy project, at the animal shelter or at a homeless shelter?  It sometimes takes creativity or persistence to find the right match, but your presence adds a touch of holiness to your gift of Tzedakah.