Tzedakah: Orthodox Jews and Charitable Giving - Term Paper Example

Heilman reports that when he conducted a survey on charity among Orthodox Jews, one man responded “I give tzedakah for lots of reasons but foremost because it is a mitzvah that the Torah commanded me to do and by doing so I am fulfilling my obligation to be a good Jew.” (Heilman: 1991, p. 134). This shows that giving tzedakah is seen as an important way of expressing one’s identity as a Jew, and of showing one’s righteousness before God and before other people. It is not just a voluntary sign of goodwill, but a formal ritual that is a compulsory and fundamental part of being Jewish.

There is a saying “charity begins at home” (Goldman: 2000, p. 250) and this encompasses the duty that parents have towards their children and children have towards their parents. There is no virtue in someone lavishing charity on public good works if his or her own family is suffering and in need of help. Our first duty is therefore to look after our own family. This explains perhaps why there are so many Jewish hospitals, homes, and clubs for the elderly: giving to these organizations is a way of individually supporting the older members of Jewish families.

Goldman points out also that children should learn how to give to others outside the home by following the example of their parents. Every Jewish family should find ways to do this as a matter of course. From this duty which starts in the home, there is then a further extension into the community and then wider afield to the country and internationally.  Goldman explains that acts of chesed, or benevolence, which include both tzedakah  (charity) and gemilut hasidim (acts of kindness),  unlike most things in Judaism, have no limits. (Goldman: 2000, p. 250) There is also an implied duty for all people to give tsedakah, including poor people as well as rich people. Each person is expected to give according to his or her means,  and this might be a small or large amount.

            In ancient times there were strict rules on reserving a portion of one’s wealth for giving to the poor and to strangers in the community. This is called “tithing”, and its purpose is to help people remember that all good things come from God and that they have a duty to share their good fortune with others who are in need.  In modern times it is all too easy to forget this and get caught up with the materialism of our consumer society, but practicing the act of tzedakah is a good way of keeping our feet on the ground. If everyone took this commandment seriously, then there would be far less poverty in the world.

The origins of the term tzedakah come from Deuteronomy 15:4 “There shall be no needy among you.” From the earliest times, when the Jewish people lived at times in a precarious land, with deserts, bandits, and all kinds of famines and disasters, feeding the needy was seen as a priority. Husbands died of illness or were killed in wars, leaving weaker members of the family in need of support. Many of the ancient stories speak of strangers in need, and the great Jewish teachers are famed for stopping what they are doing to help the needy.