J5: Charity

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How much is enough?

The basic Jewish rule is to supply each poor person
with what she or he lacks: food, clothing, shelter,
comfort, advice etc. But this rule leaves a host of new
questions in its wake. What is a legitimate lack? I don't happen
to own a helicopter at present - does that mean that you are obliged to supply me with one? You need £200 right now to cover the rent, buy a winter coat and pay overdue grocery bills - I have £200 and more, but that's still a lot of money. Am I obliged to give that much to you? There are a lot of poor people in our community, in this country, in the world; how do we set priorities?

Different people have different needs. Physically, some people eat more than others and socially some people are accustomed to a higher standard of living than others. Judaism asks us to provide for people in the manner they are used to. Of course there are limits to this: "You are commanded to support them, but you are not commanded to make them wealthy" (Talmud)

A contribution of one-tenth of a person's income and property is considered to be about the right amount of financial tzedakah. Our Sages warn of not giving more than a maximum of one-fifth of our earnings because that might lead to you becoming poor yourself and in need of communal support. Though giving less than 10% is considered meagre, it is still an act of tzedakah. Thus even a poor person should be able to be involved in tzedakah.

Tzedakah for everyone?

The questions of how to help the needy is complex and requires real sensitivity. The decision of who to actually give money to can be even harder. No one, no matter how rich, can single-handedly give to everyone who needs. Jewish law guides us in prioritising...

First of all start with yourself. You have a responsibility to take care of your own personal needs. Then look to the people nearest to you. If your family is in need then they take precedence over others. Then come your relatives. Tzedakah continues in concentric circles moving away from yourself: after relatives come those who live near you and then your community. Our Sages encourage acts of tzedakah to non-Jews as well as Jews, so the circle now widens to your town in general. Then other towns and cities, and ultimately the world. Special significance is given to helping the poor of Israel. Because it is the Jewish homeland, it is of equal importance as your own country.

The Eight levels

According to Maimonides, there are eight levels of tzedakah. Here they are:

1. The highest level is when you give a person a gift, or a loan, or enter a partnership with them, or create a job for them, so that in the long run they are no longer reliant on others.

2. Next is where you give tzedakah without knowing specifically who receives it as well as the receiver not knowing who gave it. The tzedakah box is an example of how this level can be achieved.

3. Next is where the donor knows the needy person, but they do not know who is giving to them.

4. Next is where the needy person knows who the donor is, but they do not know to whom they are giving. Both this and the above level help the poor avoid being embarrassed by having to face their benefactors.

5. Next is when you give before being asked.

6. Next is when you give after being asked.

7. Next is when you give less than is appropriate, but you do so happily and ungrudgingly.

8. Last is when you give grudgingly.

These levels are not so much about how much you give or who you give to. They are more about how you give. Not embarrassing someone, being happy to help and not waiting to be asked are considered important virtues when it comes to tzedakah. Notice the highest level is about helping a person to no longer need tzedakah at all so that they become self sufficient. To do this often requires more involvement on your part. A way must be found to help this person help themselves.

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