שולחן ערוך, יורה דעה רמח:א
כל אדם חייב ליתן צדקה, אפילו עני המתפרנס מן הצדקה חייב ליתן ממה שיתנו לו. ומי שנותן פחות ממה שראוי ליתן, בית דין היו כופין אותן ומכין אותו מכת מרדות עד שיתן מה שאמדוהו ליתן, ויורדים לנכסיו בפניו ולוקחין ממנו מה שראוי לו ליתן.
Every person is obligated to give tzedakah, even a poor person who is supported by tzedakah is obligated to give from that which others give him. And one who gives less than is appropriate to give, the court used to coerce her and whip her lashes of rebellion until she gives what they assessed her to give, and they descend on his property in front of her and take from her that which is appropriate for her to give. [AJWS translation]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1. What is the goal of poor person "re-gifting" the tzedakah that they received? What lesson are the to learn from the act of both receiving and giving tzedakah?
2. Why might it be the court's responsibility to force a poor person to give tzedakah? Does this punishment seem just (in the context of when it was written)?
3. Should we have the ability, as a community, to determine how much tzedakah each person must give? Or should this be an individual choice?
Time Period: Medieval (Geonim through the 16th Century)