5 Tzedakah Paragraphs
By Jonah 6A
- Levels
There are eight levels for giving tzedakah. One is the lowest and eight is the highest.
- Give tzedakah with not wanting too.
- Giving, but giving less than you could give.
- Giving because you are asked to give.
- Giving before being asked.
- Do not know where you are donating to.
- Giving anonymously.
- Giving to an organization but do not know which person they are giving your tzedakah to.
- Give something they really need, for example giving a job to a unemployed person.
- Can Kids Perform Tzedakah?
Kids can perform tzedakah because it does not matter what age you are. It’s important they understand what they are giving. Children have more time to donate, as adults are working etc. They don’t have the time like kids do. Children get to learn tzedakah in class as for most adult jobs, they don’t involve tzedakah. Also it is hard for kids to raise tzedakah because they don’t have as much money as an adult. In some organizations kids are not old enough to volunteer.
- How To Give Tzedakah?
When you give tzedakah you should donate it with your heart. Take the time to imagine what other less fortunate people are like. “You donate a portion of your income to tzedakah. As a child you do not have much money to donate. But you have a “field” of time talent, skills, some of which you can dedicate to make the world a better place.”
4. Charity VS Tzedakah
The difference between charity and tzedakah is, with charity you only give when you are in a giving mood, but with tzedakah you give when you are in any mood. It also does not matter what age or condition you are in for tzedakah.
- Do You Have To Be Jewish To Give Tzedakah?
You do not have to be Jewish because there are lots of people who give tzedakah, for example: Non Jews sheltered and feed Jews in World War 2. Non Jews give jobs to unemployed people. There are millions of way non Jews have done tzedakah.
2 comments:
excellent post, jonah!!!!
a few comments, if i may:
a) the 'lowest' level (as cited by maimonides) i would translate as 'giving sadly', or 'giving in sadness'.
b) the next to the highest - you left out one important point about giving to an organization. maimonides says you can only give to an organization if the person who runs it is trustworthy, has impeccable credentials and behaves properly. be careful out there!
c) highest level: 'giving something they need' was referring only to giving them a job, a loan or anything that makes them self-sufficient again.
d) kids are great. thanks for pointing that out. danny siegel (www.dannysiegel.com) has some great tzedakah books about and for kids.
e) i like your 4th point, but it seems to contradict your 3rd. i woudl be careful about #3, since we do want people to give, even if they give with less than a full heart!
all in all, what an excellent post, thanks for bringing it out to the masses. more more more!
arnie draiman
philanthropic consultant
www.draimanconsulting.com
Tzedakah
Tzedakah vs. Charity
Tzedakah and charitiy are based on the same main idea, helping other people in need. But the difference is that for charity, you give if our in a "giving mood" and/or forced to. Tzedakah only counts if its from the heart, and you give tzedakah in any mood. Tzedakah is also making food for the hungry, or doing garbage duty, or anything that benefits another person. Charity is mostly giving money to an organization, which still could be helpful.
Can Only Jews Perform Tzedakah?
Quite a few organizations don't let kids under certain ages help out, but accoording to the wiki group,(which I agree with) stated:
"There could be the stupidest 40 year old guy in the world, and there could be the smartest 12 year old who watch the discovery channel all te time".
I think that means it depends on which person your dealing with, because there's always going to be a responsible, mature person, and the exact opposite.
But if your a kid who wants to do tzedakah, here are some stuff you are allowed doing, no matter what age:
1. cleaning the dishes
2. giving a portion of your allowance to an organization
3. help mow the lawn
4. help prepare supper
Levels of Tzedakah
Here are the levels of tzedakah lised from 1 being lowest, and eight being highest:
1. not wanting to give tzedakah
2. giving a fewer amount than you could have given
3. giving because you've been asked to
4. giviing before being asked
5. giving not knowing where its going
6. giving anonymously
7. not knowing the recipient
8. giving somehting that can really help them such as: water to a de-hygrated person.
Tzedakah Relation With Jews
As Jews we are supposed to give 10-20% of our income to tzedakah. Even if you live on tzedakah, you are still supposed to give tzedakah. If you are not Jewish you can still do tzedakah.An excample would be like Chiune Sugihara, who saved a lot of Jews in the time of the Holocust, although he wasn't Jewish.
*adi*
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