Introduction to Tzedakah Texts

Some Jewish Texts about Tzedakah

Isaiah 1:17

Translation Original
Learn to do good. Devote yourselves to justice; aid the wronged. Uphold the rights of the orphan; defend the cause of the widow. [JPS translation]
לִמְדוּ הֵיטֵב דִּרְשׁוּ מִשְׁפָּט אַשְּׁרוּ חָמוֹץ שִׁפְטוּ יָתוֹם רִיבוּ אַלְמָנָה:

Suggested Discussion Questions

1. What does it mean to "do good"?
2. How can we devote ourselves to justice?

 

Micah 6:8

Translation Original
[God] has told you, O man, what is good, and what Adonai requires of you: only to do justice, and to love goodness, and to walk modestly with your God.
הִגִּיד לְךָ אָדָם, מַה-טּוֹב; וּמָה-יְהוָה דּוֹרֵשׁ מִמְּךָ, כִּי אִם-עֲשׂוֹת מִשְׁפָּט וְאַהֲבַת חֶסֶד, וְהַצְנֵעַ לֶכֶת, עִם-אֱלֹהֶיךָ

Suggested Discussion Questions

1. How would you define each of these terms? Can you think of an example of how we would fulfill these commands?
2. How are these three ideas related? In what ways to they reinforce each other? In what ways do they conflict?
3. Why do you think God would want these three things from us?

 

Babylonian Talmud, Baba Batra 9a

Translation Original
Rav Assi said: Tzedakah is as important as all the other commandments [together]. [Soncino translation]
ואמר רב אסי: שקולה צדקה כנגד כל המצות.
 
 

Babylonian Talmud, Gittin 7b

Translation Original
Even a poor person who receives tzedakah must give from what he receives.
 

 

 

 

Babylonian Talmud, Sukkah 49B

Translation Original
Our Sages taught: Gemilut chasadim (acts of loving kindness) is greater than tzedakah in three ways: Acts of tzedakah involve only one’s money – gemilut chasadim can involve both money or one’s personal service. Tzedakah can be given only to the poor – gemilut chasadim can be done both for the rich and for the poor. Tzedakah can be given only to the living – gemilut chasadim can be done both for the living and the dead. [AJWS translation]
תנו רבנן: בשלשה דברים גדולה גמילות חסדים יותר מן הצדקה, צדקה - בממונו, גמילות חסדים - בין בגופו בין בממונו. צדקה - לעניים, גמילות חסדים - בין לעניים בין לעשירים. צדקה - לחיים, גמילות חסדים - בין לחיים בין למתים.

Suggested Discussion Questions

1. In what ways can acts of lovingkindness be done for the wealthy?
2. How can we add lovingkindness to our tzedakah?

 

Babylonian Talmud, Gittin 7b

Translation Original
Even a poor person who receives tzedakah must give from what he receives.
 

 

 

 

Babylonian Talmud, Sukkah 49B

Translation Original
Our Sages taught: Gemilut chasadim (acts of loving kindness) is greater than tzedakah in three ways: Acts of tzedakah involve only one’s money – gemilut chasadim can involve both money or one’s personal service. Tzedakah can be given only to the poor – gemilut chasadim can be done both for the rich and for the poor. Tzedakah can be given only to the living – gemilut chasadim can be done both for the living and the dead. [AJWS translation]
תנו רבנן: בשלשה דברים גדולה גמילות חסדים יותר מן הצדקה, צדקה - בממונו, גמילות חסדים - בין בגופו בין בממונו. צדקה - לעניים, גמילות חסדים - בין לעניים בין לעשירים. צדקה - לחיים, גמילות חסדים - בין לחיים בין למתים.

Suggested Discussion Questions

1. In what ways can acts of lovingkindness be done for the wealthy?
2. How can we add lovingkindness to our tzedakah?

 

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