ארבע מדות בנותני צדקה הרוצה שיתן ולא יתנו אחרים עינו רעה בשל אחרים יתנו אחרים והוא לא יתן עינו רעה בשלו יתן ויתנו אחרים חסיד לא יתן ולא יתנו אחרים רשע:
There are four types of charity givers. One who wishes to give, but that others should not give: their eye is evil towards that which belongs to others; One who wishes that others should give, but that they themselves should not give: their eye is evil towards that which is their own; One who desires that they themselves should give, and that others should give: they are pious; One who desires that they themselves should not give and that others too should not give: they are wicked.
[translation by USCJ, edited for gender neutrality]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1. What do you feel about the connection between your giving of tzedakah and others' giving of tzedakah?
2. Why might this Mishna have chosen a person's attitude towards their own and others' giving as the central axes for describing the goodness of charity-givers?
3. How could one work to move towards being righteous, as defined by this Mishna?
Time Period: Rabbinic (Maccabees through the Talmud)