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I love to confuddle adults in Torah study and our Confirmation students. It is exciting when a question is posed that causes disagreement and dialogue, and it’s fantastic when one of the participants inevitably says, with laughter to follow, “I agree with every contradictory thing that has been said! How can that be?”

I’ll give you an example so that you can play along if you wish. Moses Maimonides, the great medieval Jewish philosopher, created a “ladder of tzedakah.” He identified 8 rungs on this ladder, with the lowest form of giving going on the bottom and the highest being on the top. Below this paragraph are randomized statements. In what order would you place them, with the 8th being the lowest form and the 1st being the highest form?

• When the giver puts money into the receiver’s hands after being asked
• When you help someone become independent and self-supporting
• When the giver puts money into the receiver’s hands without being asked
• When the receiver and the giver do not know each other
• When the receiver knows the giver, but the giver does not know the receiver
• When the giver gives less than they should but does so cheerfully
• When the giver knows the receiver, but the receiver does not know the giver
• When the giver gives too little and does so grudgingly

This week’s Torah portion, Reeh, discusses the mitzvah of tzedakah, of charitable giving. We read:

If, however, there is a needy person among you, one of your kinsmen in any of your settlements in the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not harden your heart and shut your hand against your needy kinsman. Rather, you must open your hand and lend him sufficient for whatever he needs.  (Deuteronomy 15:7-8)

It is interesting and important to reflect on this important commandment of tzedakah. Judaism believes that giving tzedakah is about rectifying injustice and rebalancing inequities. Philosophically, the feelings of the giver are secondary. Regardless of how we might feel, it is our obligation to help others.

In our day and age, we are confronted with requests from many worthy organizations and needy individuals. How do we apportion our giving? How do we decide which organization to donate to?  

Okay, because I know you are curious and didn’t look it up (yet), Maimonides’ order is, from lowest to highest:

• When the giver gives too little and does so grudgingly
• When the giver gives less than they should but does so cheerfully
• When the giver puts money into the receiver’s hands after being asked
• When the giver puts money into the receiver’s hands without being asked
• When the receiver knows the giver, but the giver does not know the receiver
• When the giver knows the receiver, but the receiver does not know the giver
• When the receiver and the giver do not know each other
• When you help someone become independent and self-supporting

Do you agree with Maimonides’ formulation? Notice that even the person who gives unhappily fulfills the mitzvah of tzedakah. It is not, of course, number one on the list, but it is still tzedakah. Notice as well that the highest form of giving is not to give anonymously but instead to help someone become self-sufficient.

Think about these questions. Regardless of whether you agree with Maimonides or if you came up with your own order, giving tzedakah is fundamental to our Jewish approach to the world. This is why Jewish law dictates that even those who are dependent on tzedakah are obligated to give tzedakah. Giving shapes the giver’s heart and transforms the hands of the recipient.

It is through righteous giving that we will more quickly realize the promise with which our Torah portion begins. “See, this day, I set before you blessing and curse...”  (Deuteronomy 11:26)

Shabbat Shalom.