Charity In The Jewish Tradition
When it comes to charity, many people think of it as being something other people do – namely, the rich. After all, who else has the money to fund entire schools or hospitals?
But for Judaism, no matter the branch or denomination, there is the idea of tzedakah, which comes from the Hebrew for “justice,” and this is an obligation for all, even the poor. For to make charitable donations is prescribed as a religious duty and not one subject to personal fancy. In fact, it is taught to regard the very money for available tzedakah as not one’s own, but on loan, as it were, from on on high. This leads to the further injunction to carefully vet all recipients to ensure that any donations made will actually work for good and not ill.
At first glance, this may sound like yet another curious aspect of the religion. But – as with many aspects of Judaism, even for an outsider – there exist profound philosophical reasons for them. That’s because by ordering even the poor to make acts of pious philanthropy, the religious duty to give makes of them actors and agents, not just passive charity cases, thus restoring their humanity, their own moral agency.
After all, the very act of giving is empowering in itself? For to give means to share of oneself, and in sharing we express ourselves – our love, our sacrifice, our character. It is not that poverty ennobles, but to bear poverty in righteousness: that is noble. As a result, in Judaism it isn’t necessary to be a successful developer such as Isaac Toussie so as to give alms. In Judaism, making charitable contributions is not only a religious responsibility, but a right.
For poverty is not so base as when it prevents one from sharing of one’s own means. This insight into human nature is what inspires the Jewish tradition to insist that even the poor not only have the duty to share, but can actually even enjoy sharing, giving, as a right!
Tags: business, Charitable Contributions, Charitable Donations, charity, Curious Aspect, Denomination, Ennobles, First Glance, Hebrew, Human Nature, Injunction, isaac toussie, Jewish Tradition, Judaism, Moral Agency, Outsider, Philosophical Reasons, Poverty, real estate, Religious Duty, Righteousness, Sacrifice, Tzedakah, Vet
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