אורחות חיים לרא"ש ליום הרביעי אות סח
צדק צדק תרדוף כי רודף צדקה וחסד ימצא חיים צדקה וכבוד ואל יחסר ממחצית השקל בכל שנה בפעם אחד ובכל חדש ובכל שבוע כפי מסת ידך ובכל יום לא תחסר מתנה מועטת לכל הפחות קודם תפלה ואם הגיע למעשר תתן ויהי טרף בביתך ככל אשר תמצא ידך לגמול הן לחיים הן למתים הן לעניים הן לעשירים.
Justice, justice you shall pursue (Deut 16:20) For one who pursues the doing of tzedakah and good deeds will find life, prosperity and honor (Prov 21:21). And one should make sure not to abstain from the half shekel that is required each year. (A person should give) every month even, or every week, each person according to their means. And every day a person should make sure not to abstain from putting a little something in all of the cans (for collecting tzedakah) before prayer. And when the time for tithing arrives one should give. And if there is a disaster on your home give whatever you can, a little for the living, a little for the deceased, a little for the poor, a little for the rich. [Translation by Rabbi Rachael Bregman. Edited for gender neutrality]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1. How do we fulfill the commandment “justice, justice you shall pursue”?
2. What does it mean to give a little for the poor and a little for the rich? Why is this important even if your own family is suffering to make ends meet?
Time Period: Medieval (Geonim through the 16th Century)