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Jewish Basics |
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To Jews
today, the term tzedakah means giving charitable contributions, but the term originates in
another realm. In the Bible, tzedakah means “righteous behavior” and is often paired
with justice. In Jewish thought and tradition, material support for those in need is not a
matter of charity — a term that implies generosity beyond what may be expected, but a
requirement. As in most areas of life, here too Jewish tradition makes practical demands and
states expectations.
Biblical prophets castigated the Israelites for neglecting and even exploiting the poor,
insisting that God has particular concern for those in need. The rabbis of classical Judaism
praised tzedakah, calling it, for example, “equal in value to all the other mitzvot
commandments combined.” They also praised those who practice it, saying that they attain
the level of holiness of someone who brought sacrifices in the ancient Temple. The Rosh
Hashanah liturgy lists tzedakah alongside repentance and prayer as a human act capable of
averting a negative divine decree.
History: Although the term tzedakah is applied to giving to individuals in need only in
post-biblical Judaism, the Bible has many references that show concern for the poor. Biblical
laws like those calling on farmers to leave aside some of their crops during harvest for the
landless become in rabbinic Judaism the basis for an extensive social welfare system built on
individual initiative and shared responsibility. Communities of sufficient size created
voluntary societies to care for the ill, provide for newlywed couples, house travelers, bury
the dead, and offer interest-free loans to the needy. This tradition of grassroots organizing
to assist those in need is even now a distinguishing feature of Jewish communities.
Requirements: Traditional Jewish law regulates the collection and disbursement of
tzedakah in an attempt to assure fairness in both functions. There are few mathematical
formulas offered, but Judaism provides guidance on how much to give, how to minimize
embarrassment to the receiver, and how to set priorities among competing demands for
assistance. The medieval thinker Maimonides, one of the best-known Jewish sources on
this subject, emphasizes the importance of anonymous, generous giving, and on helping those in
need become self-sufficient.
Contemporary Problems: The social and economic realities of modernity have raised new
questions and challenges for Jews who want to act upon the traditional Jewish obligation to
assist the poor. To what extent does the modern welfare state obviate the necessity for
individual initiative in tzedakah? What balance should be struck by contemporary Jews who want
to partake fully in the life of the wider community, between assisting needy Jews and
addressing Jewish needs, and providing for all those in need? To what extent must Jews today
return to the biblical origins of tzedakah in a wider concern for fairness and justice,
shaping a Jewish imperative to address the root causes of poverty and social injustice? |
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