קהלת רבה יב:יד
מאי אם טוב ואם רע, אמרי דבי רבי ינאי זה הנותן פרוטה לעני בפרהסיא, כי הא דרבי ינאי חזייה לההוא גברא דיהיב פרוטה לעני בפרהסיא, אמר מוטב דלא יהבת ליה מהשתא דיהבת וכסיפתיה, דבי רבי שילא אמרי זה הנותן צדקה לאשה בסתר דמייתי לה לידי חשדא.
What is it about Good and about Evil? It is said in the name of the house of Rabbi Yanai, one who give a poor person a small amount of money in public, for it happened once that Rabbi Yanai saw a certain man give some money to a poor person in public, it is better that he not give him than that he gives him now and disgraces him. The house of Rabbi Shiloh says, one who gives charity to a woman privately brings her into suspicion.
[AJWS translation]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1. Why does Rabbi Yanai criticize one who gives to a poor man in public? What values does this position reflect?
2. Why should one not give charity to a woman in private? Whom does this protect?
Time Period: Rabbinic (Maccabees through the Talmud)