Tzedakah (צְדָקָה) is commonly used to mean charity. In actuality, it is a Hebrew word meaning "righteousness."
Tzedakah is based on the Hebrew word (צדק, tzedeq), meaning righteousness, fairness, or justice, and is related to the Hebrew word tzadik(ah), meaning righteous individual.
The halacha says tzedakah is seen as a religious obligation that must be performed regardless of one's financial standing, for men women and children at chinuch (Sefer Hachinuch 479, Laws of Tzedakah and Maaser p. 27, 32). Meaning any and each one of you can be a righteous person. Ironically a fun fact is that the halacha says money given to one's own children above 6 years of age is "Tzedaka" (meaning one is not obligated to support them beyond that age) [Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 34:6].
Tzedakah is not time-bound. Chazal didn’t give a bracha to it because its variability (Sh"t HaRashba 1:18, Aruch HaShulchan YD 240:2).
The sages determined that it is proper to give 10% of our earnings to charity. Those who are able should strive for 20% (Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 249:1, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 34:4).
This comes from the Torah in Devarim 26:12, where it was at first legislated that the Israelites give 10 percent of their earnings to charity. Hundreds of years later, after the Temple was destroyed and the annual tithe imposed upon each Jew for the support of the priests and Levites was suspended, the Talmud ordered that Jews were to give at least 10 percent of their annual net earnings to tzedakah (https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/what-is-tzedakah).
Rambam brings down that there are 8 levels of tzedakah (Mishneh Torah, Laws of Charity, 10:7–14). With the top one being:
- Giving in a way (loan, grant, partnership, or job) that results in the person eventually no longer relying upon others.
- Giving tzedakah anonymously to an unknown recipient
- Giving tzedakah anonymously to a known recipient.
- Giving tzedakah publicly to an unknown recipient.
- Giving tzedakah before being asked.
- Giving adequately after being asked.
- Giving willingly, but inadequately.
- Giving "in sadness" or some say "giving unwillingly".
Rama and Shulchan Aruch even says the community should give non-Jews food and clothing just like they give to Jews, because of "Darchei Shalom," promoting positive relations with non-Jews (Rama Y.D. 251:1, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 34:3).
Our sages say for hierarchy of the greatest mitzvah one can do with money to the least are as follows (Maharik 128):
- Talmud Torah or poor sick people
- Building the shul
- Hachnasat Kallah, helping the poor make a wedding for their daughter (equivalent to Torah study)
- General tzedaka to poor people
At any given time of day or in the Hebrew year there are times tzedakah is incorporated:
- before the woman of the house lights her Sabbath candles
- Purim, Pesach, etc.
Hence in most Jewish homes and synagogues especially, there is a tzedakah box (a pushkha).
- Yiddish = Pushka (Pushke) comes from the Polish word ‘puszka’ meaning tin can.
The earliest mention of a tzedakah box is in connection with the priest Yehoyada (Jehoiada) in the Nevi'im of chumash, 2 Melachim 12, who crafted a chest with a hole in its lid, positioning it next to the altar's main entrance on the southern side of the Temple. Within this chest, all offerings were placed to establish a fund for repairing of the sacred structure.
According to the Mishnah, the Second Temple featured thirteen boxes shaped like a shofar into which coins were deposited. The funds within were allocated for various Temple sacrifices and charitable endeavors. In later times, the boxes became repositories for communal contributions intended to provide sustenance for the needy every Friday (Pe'ah 8:7; Bava Batra 8b.).
The Torah says in Davarim 16:20 "Tzedek, tzedek you shall pursue,"
And the Talmud teaches "Tzedaka is equal to all the other commandments combined" (Bava Bathra 9b).
Although a machlochet in the Gemara (Tanit 9a), poskim explain that for maaser it is permitted to test Hashem from pseukim in the Tanakh (Malachi 3:10-13).
Mishlei (Proverbs) Chapter 21 says performing charity and justice is preferred by G-d to a sacrifice.
Mishlei 10 says that tzedakah will save one from death.
The halacha is that it is forbidden to refuse a poor person’s request for tzedakah (Rambam (Matanot Laniyim 7:7) based on Tehillim 74:21).
Halacha even says you can redeem a Jew from captivity through tzedakaha (Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 252:1).
And I bet you’ve been given tzedakah to protect you on your travel to eretz Yisreal (and back) [Gemara (Pesachim 8a) שלוחי מצוה אינן ניזוקין - mitzva messengers are not harmed].
The Shulchan Aruch says it is a pious practice to give tzedakah before davening/tefillah (Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 249:14. Why? Our rabbeim suggests our prayers are accepted through tzedakah before tefillah from the Gamara (Bava Barta 10a), as it says in Tehillim 17:15 "I will see Your face through charity.” Therefore, the widespread minhag is to give tzedakah near the end of Pesukei Dezimrah. Kabbalah suggest to give 3 coins in two motions (2 coins and then 1) [Shaar Kavanot (Tefilat Shachar 18c) Pri Etz Chaim (shaar zemirot 6), Magen Avraham 51: 7, Shalmei Tzibbur 70a, Keshur Gudal 7:43, Siddur Bet Ovad 1, Mishna Brurah 51:19, and Kaf Hachaim 51:44. See Sh”t Yagdil Torah 1:21.].
Rambam brings down one may have in mind to give a certain amount of money to charity at a later time - like when in pesukei dvimrah on Shabbat/Chag (Hilchot Matanot La’evyonim 10:7).
Ribi Yaakov Abuhatzeira brings down that tzedekha is a mixture of tzedek (din) which is judgment that is sweetened with the shechina (hey) to make the word tzedekha, so you should be zoykhe to do tzedakah and sweeten your judgement olam hazeh and olam haba.
BH, I hope you are inspired to be a righteous person through tzedakah today.
Matthew Culberson – Mattityahu Baruch ben Avraham (מתתיהו ברוך בן אברהם )
2 Adar I 5784
Feb. 11, 2024