4 minute read
CAN THE LAWS OF TZEDAKA
by Seed UK
Can the Laws of Tzedaka Actually Make you a Better Person?
By Gila Ross “Why bother studying Torah?” a student once asked me. “My life is busy, I’m torn in so many directions, why would I add more to my schedule – wouldn’t that just stress me out?”
Advertisement
S She was intrigued by my answer. Torah is called ‘Torat Chaim’ - the Torah of life. It offers us a holistic approach to life. A person who learns and lives Torah genuinely brings meaning and joy to their life and becomes a better person. Take for example the laws of charity. On the surface, they teach us about handling money, but take a second look and you will learn how to handle life. They teach us how to relate to other people, to ourselves and to life’s challenges and opportunities. Tzedaka is one of those Jewish laws that makes sense… If there are two people, one who has the financial means and one who can’t afford the things they need, it makes sense that the one who has should help the one who doesn’t have. But why did G-d set the world up that way? Wouldn’t it be better to have a world without poverty? King David asked G-d this question, to which G-d responded, “If I make all people economically equal, who will practice kindness and charity?” It’s not that G-d created the concept of charity because there are poor people - G-d created poverty so that we can practice kindness and charity. G-d created an imperfect world, where some have and some don’t, so that we can partner with G-d and bring the world to a more perfect balanced state. And interestingly, no matter how much or how little one has, there is usually something that a person can still give! One can give of their food, their possessions, or even their time in order to help someone else (although this wouldn’t excuse a person from their obligation to give a percentage of their income to charity). When we tune into our purpose here in this world, which is to transform ourselves into better people and to choose G-d and good, we realise that just as poverty comes with its challenges, so does affluence. While we may feel like the challenges of affluence are more comfortable, spiritually they are no less a challenge than poverty. It’s a powerful mindset shift. Instead of seeing the person who is asking for support as a drain on my time, energy and resources, I can now train myself to see them as a person that is giving me an opportunity to flex my giving muscles. It’s a different way of thinking, and leads us to a different way of being. This mindset extends beyond just charity - it’s a different way of seeing life. That person driving so slowly in front of me isn’t just an annoying person, rather they represent an opportunity for me to practice my patience and compassion. That lonely neighbour who won’t stop talking? That’s an opportunity to practice empathy and kindness. That child who is always ‘pushing buttons’ is sent to help me develop into a better person. The people that we interact with are custom-made to stretch us in the ways that we need to be stretched. There are more gems to be found in the laws of giving charity. Maimonides lists eight levels of giving charity, from the most optimal way to give to the least desirable:
1. Setting someone up to be financially independent by giving a loan or going into partnership with them. Finding or giving someone a job also counts. While these may not seem like tzedaka it is actually the highest form of charity, as it enables a person to maintain their dignity. 2. Giving where both giver and recipient are anonymous. 3. Giving where the giver knows who they are giving to, but the recipient doesn’t know who gave. 4. The giver doesn’t know who they are giving to, but the recipient knows the donor. 5. Giving before being asked. 6. Giving after being asked. 7. Giving less than what is being asked but giving gladly and with a smile. 8. Giving begrudgingly.
When we look at these eight different levels, we can see that how charity is given is so important. Charity that protects the recipient’s dignity is the highest level of charity. If we don’t have the means to set someone up to be financially independent, then the next best choice is to protect their dignity by giving anonymously. We all know how hard it is to ask for help! So the onus is on us to develop the kindness and sensitivity to try and see what someone else may need before they have to ask us for help, to reach out and offer help, and to take care of their emotional needs by giving gladly and without making a person feel bad. G-d put us in a world rich with opportunities to develop ourselves, to become people who protect others’ dignity and take care of others’ needs – both physical and emotional. To become people who treat everyone with kindness and sensitivity, and in doing so, partner with G-d in making the world a better place.
Rebbetzen Gila Ross is a Seed family educator based in Manchester with a passion for positive parenting and sharing the joy and relevance of Judaism. Find her on Instagram @itsgilaross and check out her fabulous podcast - Power Up!
