RAMBAM, MISHNEH TORAH, LAWS OF GIFTS TO THE POOR 7:7 We support the poor of the gentiles along with the poor of Israel for the sake of “the ways of peace”. A poor person that goes door to door begging need not be given a large gift but is given a small gift. It is prohibited to turn away a poor person empty-handed. Even if one gives only a single dried fig, as it says, “do not let the poor turn away disappointed.” [Translation by Hillel] מפרנסין ומכסין עניי עכו"ם עם עניי ישראל מפני דרכי שלום, ועני המחזר על הפתחים אין נזקקין לו למתנה מרובה אבל נותנין לו מתנה מועטת, ואסור להחזיר את העני ששאל ריקם ואפילו אתה נותן לו גרוגרת אחת שנאמר אל ישוב דך נכלם. Allocation Process PART 1 Nominations: Each student can suggest an organization to receive funds and articulate the mitzvah, the sacred work, accomlished by the organization. Students can also review the Temple Emanu-El Social Justice Partners list that is located on the website for suggestions. PART 2 Discussion: Read the text above and discuss 1. Why do you think the Rabbis suggest this specific reason to help the non-Jews, “the ways of peace”? What do you think this phrase might mean? 2. Why do you think this source emphasizes that everyone should be given a small gift? Would it better to concentrate resources on a smaller number of people? 3. Based on this text, using percentages, how would you allocate our funds? PART 3 Do the Math. Class should decide how to allocate the collected funds--either by general consensus or by each person doing a personal allocation and then tallying the totals.