What do Jews believe about charity?

Answer 1

A report I read was that although Jews are just about 4% of the Amercian population they give app. 25% of the charity.

This is for two reasons, firstly traditionally charity is the main Mitzvah / Biblical Good Deed in Judaism, as well as Jewish people are usually brought up with love and therefore have love in their hearts for others.

Answer 2

Tzdakkah, which literally means 'justice', is the greatest mitzvah. In modern Jewish life, tzdakkah most often means giving to charity. One of our greatest sages, Rambam (Rabbi Moshe Ben Maimon) ranked the levels of charity as follows:

1. The highest form of charity is to help sustain a person before they become impoverished by offering a substantial gift in a dignified manner, or by extending a suitable loan, or by helping them find employment or establish themselves in business so as to make it unnecessary for them to become dependent on others.

2. When the donor and recipient are unknown to each other.

3. When the donor is aware of the recipient's identity, but the recipient is unaware of the source.

4. When the recipient is aware of the donor's identity, but the donor does not know the identity of the recipient.

5. When one gives directly to the poor without being asked.

6. When one gives directly to the poor upon being asked.

7. When one gives less than he should, but does so cheerfully.

8. When donations are given grudgingly.

Answer 3

The Hebrew word for charity is 'tzdakkah'. The word tzdakkah actually means justice. Judaism teaches that by giving chartiy, we help bring justice into the world. Below are the levels of charity according to Rambam (a great Jewish sage) from the least to most honourable:

8. When donations are given grudgingly.

7. When one gives less than he should, but does so cheerfully.

6. When one gives directly to the poor upon being asked.

5. When one gives directly to the poor without being asked.

4. When the recipient is aware of the donor's identity, but the donor does not know the identity of the recipient.

3. When the donor is aware of the recipient's identity, but the recipient is unaware of the source.

2. When the donor and recipient are unknown to each other.

1. The highest form of charity is to help sustain a person before they become impoverished by offering a substantial gift in a dignified manner, or by extending a suitable loan, or by helping them find employment or establish themselves in business so as to make it unnecessary for them to become dependent on others.

Answer 4

Yes.