Top 8 Ways Of Giving (to The Less Fortunate)

If you think about it, there are hundreds upon hundreds of methods by which a person can give charity (Tzedakah). There are food packing assembly lines, fundraisers, thousands of charity organizations, collections for hospitals, people begging for money on almost every city corner, and even small Tzedakah boxes on store counters where you can give just a penny if you’re so inclined. It can feel as though the opportunities to give are endless! But how do we ever know if what we're doing is enough or if we’re maximizing our giving? Way back in the 12th Century, Rabbi Moshe Ben Maimon, more commonly known as Rambam, or Maimonides, organized the many different types of charity into eight levels ranging from adequate to ideal (as he saw it):

8. The lowest level of charity is when a person gives it begrudgingly.

Via thegreatwhitedope.com

The very definition of charity is “the voluntary giving of help.” To do so in this insincere manner counts, but just barely.

7. Taking it one step higher, the seventh level is when a person gives gladly and willingly, but not enough to be considered adequate.

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6. The sixth level is when a person gives a proper amount to the one in need, but does so only as a result of being prompted or asked directly for it.

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5. Even greater, is when a person gives adequately into the hands of the needy, and furthermore performs this act even without having been asked to do so first.

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4. An even higher level still is when a person gives charity without knowing to whom he gives, yet the poor are aware of where the money/food/etc. is coming from.

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Great sages used to takes coins and toss them behind them as they walked so that the poor could pick them up without shame.

3. A level that eliminates even more shame on the part of the recipient is when a person knows to whom he gives, but keeps his identity hidden from the poor.

Via ktul.images.worldnow.com

In addition to tossing money behind them, great sages used to secretly place coins in the doors of those in need. This is a good option if there aren’t any distributors of charity considered to be trustworthy.

2. The second to highest level of charity is when a person gives in such a way that the identity of both parties remains completely anonymous.

Via karmeyhesed.org

Examples of this method could include donations to charity funds, Tzedakah boxes, etc. It is akin to the time of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem when the righteous would give of their wealth to a secret fund that the poor could then benefit from. The act is holy in its desire to perform it without any recognition.

1. The greatest level is when a person supports another in such a way that the recipient becomes no longer reliant on the help of others, such as finding or providing employment for him.

Via thegrindstone.com

Tzedakah has always been considered a very great mitzvah in the Jewish tradition and the common practice is to distribute 10% of one's post tax earnings to the poor and to worthy charitable causes. If all of us committed to this practice, many many more mitzvot would be done and many more organizations would have the resources to make this world a better place for all. If you like what we do at the Aish Center please consider making us one of your tzedakah destinations this year.

Visit www.aishcenter.com and click on the DONATE BUTTON to support our work or CLICK HERE to donate.

Thank you and happy new year!