Levels of charity or Tzedakah

[#10 Jersey]

from judaism101.. www.jewfaq.org (http://www.jewfaq.org)



Certain kinds of tzedakah are considered more meritorious than others..... Rambam (http://www.jewfaq.org/defs/rambam.htm) organized them into a list. The levels of charity, from the least meritorious to the most meritorious, are:

Giving begrudgingly
Giving less that you should, but giving it cheerfully.
Giving after being asked
Giving before being asked
Giving when you do not know the recipient's identity, but the recipient knows your identity
Giving when you know the recipient's identity, but the recipient doesn't know your identity
Giving when neither party knows the other's identity
Enabling the recipient to become self-reliantWhat do you think of this list?

[#10 Jersey]

apparently it is beyond your capability to see the discussion points in something written by one of the greatest religious minds in history.

Some would say that "intent" of the donor is extremely important, while Maimonides points out that while intent is important, a "good" act its important in and of itself.

Some say that "good" acts alone help to repair the world, while others say that without intention, the acts are empty and of little purpose.

[christopher d]

What do you think of this list?
That's rather like being handed the Beatitudes or the Four Noble Truths and being asked "So, what do you think?".

On the other hand, thank you for referencing the jewfaq.org site. Good stuff on there!

:)

[#10 Jersey]

That's rather like being handed the Beatitudes or the Four Noble Truths and being asked "So, what do you think?".

On the other hand, thank you for referencing the jewfaq.org site. Good stuff on there!

:)

Ok, I thought we could get into the importance of intent behind actions. But I guess not....please delete the thread

[BenReilly]

from judaism101.. www.jewfaq.org (http://www.jewfaq.org)



Certain kinds of tzedakah are considered more meritorious than others..... Rambam (http://www.jewfaq.org/defs/rambam.htm) organized them into a list. The levels of charity, from the least meritorious to the most meritorious, are:

Giving begrudgingly
Giving less that you should, but giving it cheerfully.
Giving after being asked
Giving before being asked
Giving when you do not know the recipient's identity, but the recipient knows your identity
Giving when you know the recipient's identity, but the recipient doesn't know your identity
Giving when neither party knows the other's identity
Enabling the recipient to become self-reliantWhat do you think of this list?

I'm familiar with this list, but honestly haven't given a great deal of thought to the specifics. I certainly believe that there are more honorable forms of charity than others.

The important thing, IMHO, is the concept of tzedakah, justice. One should understand that helping the sick and poor is a moral obligation.

[DoctorD]

If I want to learn something about Judaism I'll go to Matisyahu or Madonna thank you.

:D

[#10 Jersey]

If I want to learn something about Judaism I'll go to Matisyahu or Madonna thank you.

:D

Well played!

[#10 Jersey]

If I want to learn something about Judaism I'll go to Matisyahu or Madonna thank you.

:D

There is only one you'll really learn Judaism from...

[JBigjake]

New Jersey's perspective on Jewish charity: http://www.nj.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-2/114226593260630.xml?starledger?nnj&coll=1
"They are part of the scenery every Sunday in Teaneck's Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods -- Israeli, Russian and Brooklyn Jews going house to house asking for money. In an uneven stream, poor widows, parents of ill children, men out of work, and emissaries for Israeli schools and charities descend on streets around Teaneck's dozen or so Orthodox synagogues."

[chad]

There is only one you'll really learn Judaism from...
Iranian Monitor?

[christopher d]

Ok, I thought we could get into the importance of intent behind actions. But I guess not....please delete the thread
No need to get your knickers in a twist. Had you offered this "importance of intent behind actions" along with your "what do you think?", you may have gotten more traction (as some of the above posts show).

In working magic, intent is everything. One simply can't go through the motions of channeling energy and expect anything -- good or ill -- to come of it. I see many corrolaries here. The mere act of throwing a dollar in a man's hat, all the while holding disdain for that man and his station in life, won't help him or the one throwing the buck. Doing so with love and compassion will.

As to the secrecy aspect in Rambam's higher levels of charity, while they make sense intellectually, they don't resonate with me spiritually. Which isn't to say that I need laurels every time I donate time or money to charity, just that I don't see one who does as less spiritual as one who doesn't. Either way, if the intent in the heart is to give, then the beneficence sought will be acheived.

[#10 Jersey]

In working magic, intent is everything. One simply can't go through the motions of channeling energy and expect anything -- good or ill -- to come of it. I see many corrolaries here. The mere act of throwing a dollar in a man's hat, all the while holding disdain for that man and his station in life, won't help him or the one throwing the buck. Doing so with love and compassion will.

As to the secrecy aspect in Rambam's higher levels of charity, while they make sense intellectually, they don't resonate with me spiritually. Which isn't to say that I need laurels every time I donate time or money to charity, just that I don't see one who does as less spiritual as one who doesn't. Either way, if the intent in the heart is to give, then the beneficence sought will be acheived.

I would say that I agree with Maimonides. There are levels and giving to charity with intent and love is better than giving without intent and love. But to the poor person that receives the $ and is able to provide for their child or the student that can now have the supplies/books/etc they need, do they really care what the intent of the donor was?

There are certain acts that still help to sustain the world, even when Tzedakah is given begrudgingly.

I would guess that many of the world's problems might be solved if everyone gave something begrudgingly.