Giving Charity

Moshe Rabbeinu lays down the rules related to giving charity. He speaks of the importance of “opening your hand” for the poor among you.

These instructions are the basis for the specific obligations involved in this Mitzva. Just from the wording of the Torah concerning the poor among you, we learn that we are to take care of our local needs, before going outside of our community. Similarly, if one lives in Israel, the needs of the people of Israel, come before others. This is the idea of עניי עירך קודם, “The poor of your city come first.”

We also learn the idea of “tithing” in order to be wealthy. The Rabbis wrote, עשר בשביל שתתעשר, “Give your tithes in order to become wealthy.”

Originally, this tithing referred to taking portions of our crops, and give it to the Kohein, Levi, or the poor. This Mitzva on crops is again applicable in Israel, but the most relevant application is known as מעשר כספים, a tithing of money.

This applies to earned income from salaries or investments. We are to carefully manage our finances so that we are giving our מעשר, or “tenth.” These rules are complex and have three opinions as to the nature of this obligation. Some say it is a Torah obligation. Others say it is a rabbinic obligation, while others say that Maaser Kesafim is only a custom. The real obligation is in the field and not from other types of earnings.

In any case, generosity and kindness are characteristics of the Jew. We must feel the pain of the less fortunate, and do our best to ease their burden. And we are even given a guarantee that if we give Tzedaka, charity, we will be blessed with wealth. Kindness and generosity, produce winners, and not losers.