search the databaseBrowse By Category |
PovertySource SheetAn examination of our obligations to feed the poor with an emphasis on the principle of preserving the dignity of those work in the fields and those receiving the aid.
Part one of five text and discussion sheets included within the Jewish Guide to Fairtrade - which can be found in full here - http://www.biggreenjewish.org/documents/synagogues/a-jewish-guide-to-fairtrade.pdf
Text
right to left
If, however, there is a needy person among you, one of your kin 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 kin. Rather, you must open your hand and lend them sufficient for whatever they need. Beware lest you harbor the base thought, "The seventh year, the year of remission, is approaching," so that you are mean to your needy kins and give him nothing. They will cry out ot the Lord against you, and you will incur guilt. כִּי יִהְיֶה בְךָ אֶבְיוֹן מֵאַחַד אַחֶיךָ בְּאַחַד שְׁעָרֶיךָ בְּאַרְצְךָ אֲשֶׁר ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לָךְ לֹא תְאַמֵּץ אֶת לְבָבְךָ וְלֹא תִקְפֹּץ אֶת יָדְךָ מֵאָחִיךָ הָאֶבְיוֹן:
right to left
They [the Jews] were to observe them [Purim] as days of feasting and merrymaking, and as an occasion for sending gifts to one another and presents to the poor. [JPS translation] לַעֲשׂוֹת אוֹתָם יְמֵי מִשְׁתֶּה וְשִׂמְחָה וּמִשְׁלוֹחַ מָנוֹת אִישׁ לְרֵעֵהוּ וּמַתָּנוֹת לָאֶבְיוֹנִים:
right to left
One who is generous to the poor makes a loan to the Lord; God will repay that person their due. [JPS translation. Edited for gender neutrality] מַלְוֵה יְקֹוָק חוֹנֵן דָּל וּגְמֻלוֹ יְשַׁלֶּם לוֹ:
right to left
Many court the favor of a great person, and all are the friends of a dispenser of gifts. All the kin of a poor person despise them; how much more is the poor person shunned by their friends! [JPS translation. Edited for gender neutrality] (ו) רַבִּים יְחַלּוּ פְנֵי נָדִיב וְכָל הָרֵעַ לְאִישׁ מַתָּן: (ז) כָּל אֲחֵי רָשׁ שְׂנֵאֻהוּ אַף כִּי מְרֵעֵהוּ רָחֲקוּ מִמֶּנּוּ מְרַדֵּף אֲמָרִים לא לוֹ הֵמָּה:
right to left
Proper generosity does not entail spending money indiscriminately, in the ways that the common people appreciate; namely, that you would bestow much food and give gifts to whoever comes your way. Rather, proper generosity is the sharing of God’s gifts with the needy and deserving. [Translation by R. Yaakov Wincelberg, edited for gender neutrality. Translated from Judeo-Arabic] הנדיבות המשובחת היא לא שיוציא אדם ממונו על אחרים באפן זה או אחר, כפי שמבין ההמון את המשג הזה, דהינו רק להעניק מזונות הרבה למי שיזדמן לו ולתת מתנות בשפע על גל מי שיקרה בכרכו - אלא הנדיבות הנזכרת שהיא מן המדות התרומיות פרושה שיהא האדם נדיב ומיטיב ממה שחננו ה’ יתעלה לאלה הצריכים וראויים לכך. 
|