(א) מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה, לִתֵּן צְדָקָה לָעֲנִיִּים, כְּפִי מַה שֶּׁרָאוּי לֶעָנִי. אִם הָיְתָה יַד הַנּוֹתֵן מַשֶּׂגֶת. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר, (דברים טו ח) "פָתֹחַ תִּפְתַּח אֶת יָדְךָ לוֹ," וְנֶאֱמַר, (ויקרא כה לה) "וְהֶחֱזַקְתָּ בּוֹ, גֵּר וְתוֹשָׁב וָחַי עִמָּךְ" וְנֶאֱמַר, (ויקרא כה לו) "וְחֵי אָחִיךָ, עִמָּךְ":
(1) It is a positive mitzvah, to give tzedakah to the poor, according to what is fitting for the poor person, if he has the means to do so, as it is said, (Deut. 15:8) Rather, you must open your hand and lend him sufficient for whatever he needs. And it is said, (Lev. 25:35) [If your kinsman, being in straits, comes under your authority,] and you hold him, as though a resident alien, [let him live by your side:] And it is said, (Lev. 25:36), [Do not exact from him advance or accrued interest, but fear your God.] Let him live by your side, as your kinsman.130See Babylonian Talmud Ketubot 67b-68a.
Explanation:
The author of this source is the Rambam and it was written between the years 1135-1204. The Rambam was a Sephardic Jew had a heavy influence on the Torah. This source teaches us that the mitzvah of giving to the poor is a positive commandment and if one does not follow it, they are transgressing the two following commandments: “Do not harden your heart and do not close your hand from your indigent brother.” From this source we learn the importance of helping others. If one of our brothers or sisters are in need, we do not turn way.
Connection:
For my project I found a school that is less fortunate than many others and dose not have the requirements to run a school properly. This source connects to my project because instead of turning the other way, I decided to help. According to the source, it states that you must give tzedakah to others that is fitting for them. That is what I did for my project. I got in contact with the school and found out their needs. The most requested want is books for their students.
(ז) שְׁמוֹנֶה מַעֲלוֹת יֵשׁ בַּצְּדָקָה, זוֹ לְמַעְלָה מִזּוֹ. מַעֲלָה גְּדוֹלָה, שֶׁאֵין לְמַעְלָה מִמֶּנָּה, זֶה הַמַּחֲזִיק בְּיַד יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁמָּךְ, וְנוֹתֵן לוֹ מַתָּנָה, אוֹ הַלְוָאָה, אוֹ עוֹשֶׂה עִמּוֹ שֻׁתָּפוּת, אוֹ מַמְצִיא לוֹ מְלָאכָה, כְּדֵי לְחַזֵּק אֶת יָדוֹ, עַד שֶׁלֹּא יִצְטָרֵךְ לַבְּרִיּוֹת לִשְׁאל. וְעַל זֶה נֶאֱמַר, (ויקרא כה לה) "וְהֶחֱזַקְתָּ בּוֹ גֵּר, וְתוֹשָׁב וָחַי עִמָּךְ" כְּלוֹמַר, הַחֲזֵק בּוֹ, עַד שֶׁלֹּא יִפּל, וְיִצְטָרֵךְ:
(7) There are eight levels of tzedakah, each one greater than the other. The greatest level, higher than all the rest, is to fortify a fellow Jew, and give him a gift, a loan, form with him a partnership, or find work for him, until he is strong enough, so that he does not need to ask others [for sustenance]. Of this it is said, (Lev. 25:35) [If your kinsman, being in straits, comes under your authority,] and you hold him as though a resident alien, let him live by your side. That is as if to say, "Hold him up," so that he will not fall, and be in need.186See Babylonian Talmud Shabbat 63a.
Explanation:
The author of this source is the Rambam and it was written between the years 1135-1204. The Rambam was a Sephardic Jew had a heavy influence on the Torah. From this source we are taught the many different levels of tzedakah and how each level is greater than the other. We also learn that the highest level of tzedakah is to give a fellow Jew a gift, a loan, a partnership, or to find them a job.
Connection:
According to the source their are many levels of tzedakah. After doing research, I found out that my project is on the third level. The third level of tzedakah is giving tzedakah to someone, but they do not know who gave it to them. My project is on the level on tzedakah because I decided to create a book drive and donate all of my profits to a school that does not have the the right fundamentals to learn and teach their students.
(ב) שִׁמְעוֹן הַצַּדִּיק, הָיָה מִשְּׁיָרֵי כְנֶסֶת הַגְּדוֹלָה. הוּא הָיָה אוֹמֵר, עַל שְׁלשָׁה דְבָרִים, הָעוֹלָם עוֹמֵד, עַל הַתּוֹרָה, וְעַל הָעֲבוֹדָה, וְעַל גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים:
(2) Shimon the Righteous, was from the remnants of the Great Assembly. He would say, "On three things, the world stands: on the Torah, on the service, and on acts of lovingkindness."
Explanation:
This source from Pirkei Avot was written and explained by Shi on HaTzaddik during the time of the Anshei Knesset HaGedolah, which took place 410 BCE and 310 BCE. The time period was around the time of the destruction of the First Temple, up until the invasion of the Greeks. We learn from this source the importance of chesed, Torah study, and prayer. According to the source, it is so important, our world surroundes these three themes them out, in order for our world to function.
Connection:
Shimon the righteous states and explains how the world stands on there pillars. The three pillars are: Torah study, prayer, and kindness. From this we learn how important being kind to others is. This connect to my project because for my project I decided to create a book drive and donate all of my profits to a school that does not have the the right fundamentals to learn and teach their students. My project really focuses on kindness to others and that is what this source is all about.