Translation | Original |
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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.
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1. In what ways can acts of lovingkindness be done for the wealthy?
2. How can we add lovingkindness to our tzedakah?
3. How can we add lovingkindness to our foreign assistance policies? to our domestic policies?
1. Who are the players in this text – seen and unseen?
2. There is a vision here of a leader committed to justice and equity. In what ways are our leaders already doing this? In what ways are improvements still needed?
1. Who are the players in this text – seen and unseen?
2. What power dynamics are at play?
3. What social justice themes emerge from this text?
1. According to this text, every person has at least one of the above traits. Which do you have - and when?
2. What is the relationship between timidness and action?
1. Who are the players in this text – seen and unseen?
2. What is an act of loving kindness? How is it unique compared to any good deed?
3. What social justice themes emerge from this text?
1. Who are the players in this text – seen and unseen?
2. In what ways are these things not measurable?
3. How does a person reap benefits from these acts?
1. Who are the players in this text – seen and unseen?
2. What power dynamics are at play?
3. The text calls on us to behave in certain ways that now that we've been created. What are those ways?
1. Who are the players in this text – seen and unseen?
2. How does an individual "wrest judgment"?
3. How does a society "wrest judgment"?