ש"ך יורה דעה סימן רנא
ו קודמים לעניי עיר אחרת - משמע אפי' עיר אחרת של ארץ ישראל
“The poor of your city take precedence over the poor of another city”—this means: even
if the other city is in the land of Israel. [Translation by Rabbi Jill Jacobs]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1. What might we have assumed from the first line without the Shach’s interpretation?
2. Why might we be inclined to give to the poor of a city in Israel before the poor of our own city outside of Israel?
3. What tzedakah ethic can we learn from this text?
Time Period: Modern (Spinoza through post-WWII)