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{{Judaism}}
{{Judaism}}


'''Tzedakah''' ([[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]: '''צדקה''') is the concept of [[charity]] in [[Judaism]]. It is considered an especially important value in Judaism, and has led to high levels of philanthropy in the Jewish community, even among its less religiously traditional segments. According to [[Maimonides]], giving anonymously (''[[Matan Beseiser]]'') is a superior form of charity, and anonymous donations are especially common in the Jewish community. The Arabic word "'''[[sadaqah]]'''" (صدقه) is similarly used to denote charity.
'''Tzedakah''' ([[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]: '''צדקה''') is a [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] word most commonly translated as ''[[Charity (virtue)|charity]]'', though it is based on a [[root word|root]] meaning ''[[justice]]'' (צדק). In [[Judaism]], ''tzedakah'' refers to the religious obligation to perform charity, and philanthropic acts, and is considered an especially important value in Judaism; according to [[Maimonides]], giving anonymously (''[[Matan Beseiser]]'') is a superior form of charity.

It and has led to high levels of philanthropy in the Jewish community, even among its less religiously traditional segments, and anonymous donations are especially common in the Jewish community. The Arabic word "'''[[sadaqah]]'''" (صدقه) is similarly used to denote charity.


==Tzedakah as justice==
==Tzedakah as justice==


According to the [[Holiness Code]] of the [[Torah]], [[farmer]]s should leave the corners of their fields unharvested, and they should not attempt to [[harvest]] any left-overs that had been forgotten when they had harvested the majority of a field<ref>{{bibleverse||Leviticus|19:9|}}</ref>; in [[vineyard]]s, some grapes should be left ungathered<ref>{{bibleverse||Leviticus|19:10|}}</ref>. According to the Holiness Code, these things should be left for [[poverty|the poor]] and for strangers<ref>{{bibleverse||Leviticus|19:10|}}</ref>
⚫
While the word "tzedakah" is most commonly translated into English as "charity", the word actually comes from the Hebrew word meaning "[[justice]]" or "[[righteousness]]" (צדק). In chapter 19 of the [[Leviticus|Book of Leviticus]] it says that "When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap all the way to the edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest. You shall not pick your vineyard bare, or gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger." In Judaism, it is believed that God is the owner of all things and that an owner of a field is only its temporary guardian or steward of the land and the goods which it produces and that in this passage, God requires the steward to give a portion of what he has been given charge of to those in need. What's more, in this passage, the food is left for the needy to gather in dignity that which God gives to them rather than requiring the poor to beg for what the owner of the field will decide to give them. For this reason, giving anonymously to an unknown recipient is considered to be the second highest form of tzedakah (see below).

⚫
In Judaism, it is believed that God is the owner of all things and that an owner of a field is only its temporary guardian or steward of the land and the goods which it produces and that in this passage, God requires the steward to give a portion of what he has been given charge of to those in need. What's more, in this passage, the food is left for the needy to gather in dignity that which God gives to them rather than requiring the poor to beg for what the owner of the field will decide to give them. For this reason, giving anonymously to an unknown recipient is considered to be the second highest form of tzedakah (see below).


Thus the Jewish concept of ''tzedakah'' differs from the English understanding of the word charity, in that while charity is given when the [[philanthropist]] is able and emotionally or otherwise moved to do so, ''tzedakah'' is an obligation given by God to all Jews regardless of financial standing or willingness to give, although giving willingly is certainly considered better than giving unwillingly (see below). A poor man is not absolved from giving ''tzedakah''. ''Tzedakah'' is considered one of three acts, along with [[teshuvah]] and [[tefilah]], that gain forgiveness of [[sin]] and the annulment of bad decrees.
Thus the Jewish concept of ''tzedakah'' differs from the English understanding of the word charity, in that while charity is given when the [[philanthropist]] is able and emotionally or otherwise moved to do so, ''tzedakah'' is an obligation given by God to all Jews regardless of financial standing or willingness to give, although giving willingly is certainly considered better than giving unwillingly (see below). A poor man is not absolved from giving ''tzedakah''. ''Tzedakah'' is considered one of three acts, along with [[teshuvah]] and [[tefilah]], that gain forgiveness of [[sin]] and the annulment of bad decrees.
Line 13: Line 17:
==Levels of tzedakah==
==Levels of tzedakah==


[[Maimonides]], in his ''[[Mishneh Torah]]'' defined the following eight levels of charity, each greater than the next. The eight levels from highest to lowest are:<ref>''Mishneh Torah, Hilchos Matanos Aniyim'' 10:1,7-14</ref>
[[Maimonides]] was driven to enumerate the forms of charity, from the greatest to the most weak<ref>Maimonides, ''[[Mishneh Torah]]''</ref>:
# Giving a poor person work (or loaning him money to start a business) so he will not have to depend on charity. Because the person is now free from having to rely on charity, the giver has not merely helped the recipient in the short term, but for the rest of their life. There are four sub-levels to this:
# Giving a pauper independence so that they will not have to depend on charity. Maimonides enumerates four forms of this, from the greatest to the weakest:
## Hiring a poor person or otherwise finding them a job.
## Giving a poor person work.
## Making a partnership with them (this is lower than work, as the recipient might feel he doesn't put enough into the partnership).
## Making a partnership with them (this is lower than work, as the recipient might feel he doesn't put enough into the partnership).
## Giving a loan.
## Giving a loan.
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# Giving unwillingly.
# Giving unwillingly.


==In Practice==
==How tzedakah is lived==

In practice, most Jews carry out ''tzedakah'' by donating a portion of their income to charitable institutions, or to a needy person that they may encounter.

The fourteenth chapter of the [[Deuteronomy|Book of Deuteronomy]] says that "You shall set aside every year a tenth part of all the yield of your sowing that is brought from the field."


Most Jews live out ''tzedakah'' in practical terms by donating a portion of their income to charitable institutions or to a needy person that they may encounter. The fourteenth chapter of the [[Deuteronomy|Book of Deuteronomy]] says that "You shall set aside every year a tenth part of all the yield of your sowing that is brought from the field." However, if this is not possible, the law of ''tzedakah'' still requires that something is given.
The perception among many modern day Jews is that if donation of this form is not possible, the obligation of ''tzedakah'' still requires that something is given.


Special acts of ''tzedakah'' are specially performed on certain days. On one's wedding day, one is supposed to give to charity to symbolize the holiness of the day. On [[Passover]], a major holiday in Jewish tradition, one is encouraged to welcome hungry people to the table, for Jews were once slaves in Egypt and should help those in need as they were once helped by God. On the holiday of [[Purim]] it is an obligation for every Jew to give two people food which is equivalent to a meal to increase happiness in the month of [[Adar]] which is the happiest time on the Jewish calendar.
Special acts of ''tzedakah'' are performed on significant days; at weddings, Jewish brides and bridegrooms would traditionally give to charity, to symbolise the sacred character of the marriage; at [[Passover]], a major holiday in Jewish tradition, it is traditional to be welcoming towards hungry strangers, and feed them at the table; at [[Purim]], in [[Orthodox Judaism]], it is considered obligatory for every Jew to give food to two other people, in an amount that would equate to a meal each, for the purpose of increasing the total happiness during [[Adar|the month]].


== See also ==
== See also ==

Revision as of 20:30, 7 October 2007

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Tzedakah (Hebrew: צדקה) is a Hebrew word most commonly translated as charity, though it is based on a root meaning justice (צדק). In Judaism, tzedakah refers to the religious obligation to perform charity, and philanthropic acts, and is considered an especially important value in Judaism; according to Maimonides, giving anonymously (Matan Beseiser) is a superior form of charity.

It and has led to high levels of philanthropy in the Jewish community, even among its less religiously traditional segments, and anonymous donations are especially common in the Jewish community. The Arabic word "sadaqah" (صدقه) is similarly used to denote charity.

Tzedakah as justice

According to the Holiness Code of the Torah, farmers should leave the corners of their fields unharvested, and they should not attempt to harvest any left-overs that had been forgotten when they had harvested the majority of a field[1]; in vineyards, some grapes should be left ungathered[2]. According to the Holiness Code, these things should be left for the poor and for strangers[3]

In Judaism, it is believed that God is the owner of all things and that an owner of a field is only its temporary guardian or steward of the land and the goods which it produces and that in this passage, God requires the steward to give a portion of what he has been given charge of to those in need. What's more, in this passage, the food is left for the needy to gather in dignity that which God gives to them rather than requiring the poor to beg for what the owner of the field will decide to give them. For this reason, giving anonymously to an unknown recipient is considered to be the second highest form of tzedakah (see below).

Thus the Jewish concept of tzedakah differs from the English understanding of the word charity, in that while charity is given when the philanthropist is able and emotionally or otherwise moved to do so, tzedakah is an obligation given by God to all Jews regardless of financial standing or willingness to give, although giving willingly is certainly considered better than giving unwillingly (see below). A poor man is not absolved from giving tzedakah. Tzedakah is considered one of three acts, along with teshuvah and tefilah, that gain forgiveness of sin and the annulment of bad decrees.

Levels of tzedakah

Maimonides was driven to enumerate the forms of charity, from the greatest to the most weak[4]:

  1. Giving a pauper independence so that they will not have to depend on charity. Maimonides enumerates four forms of this, from the greatest to the weakest:
    1. Giving a poor person work.
    2. Making a partnership with them (this is lower than work, as the recipient might feel he doesn't put enough into the partnership).
    3. Giving a loan.
    4. Giving a gift.
  2. Giving charity anonymously to an unknown recipient.
  3. Giving charity anonymously to a known recipient.
  4. Giving charity publicly to an unknown recipient.
  5. Giving charity before being asked.
  6. Giving adequately after being asked.
  7. Giving willingly, but inadequately.
  8. Giving unwillingly.

In Practice

In practice, most Jews carry out tzedakah by donating a portion of their income to charitable institutions, or to a needy person that they may encounter.

The fourteenth chapter of the Book of Deuteronomy says that "You shall set aside every year a tenth part of all the yield of your sowing that is brought from the field."

The perception among many modern day Jews is that if donation of this form is not possible, the obligation of tzedakah still requires that something is given.

Special acts of tzedakah are performed on significant days; at weddings, Jewish brides and bridegrooms would traditionally give to charity, to symbolise the sacred character of the marriage; at Passover, a major holiday in Jewish tradition, it is traditional to be welcoming towards hungry strangers, and feed them at the table; at Purim, in Orthodox Judaism, it is considered obligatory for every Jew to give food to two other people, in an amount that would equate to a meal each, for the purpose of increasing the total happiness during the month.

See also

References

  • Rabbi Wayne Dossick Living Judaism: The Complete Guide to Jewish Belief, Tradition, and Practice.
pages 249-251.
  1. ^ Leviticus 19:9
  2. ^ Leviticus 19:10
  3. ^ Leviticus 19:10
  4. ^ Maimonides, Mishneh Torah


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