Charity: Difference between revisions
From Halachipedia
→How to Give
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===How to Give=== | ===How to Give=== | ||
# One should be very careful not to raise his voice against or embarrass a poor person.<ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 34:8 </ref> | # One should be very careful not to raise his voice against or embarrass a poor person.<ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 34:8 </ref> | ||
#If one gives tzedaka while expressing a begrudging face one doesn't get any mitzvah.<ref>The Rambam (Matanot Laniyim 10:4) writes that a person should not give tzedaka with a sour face and if he does he loses his mitzvah. Radvaz sources it in Bava Batra 9b that a person is rewarded for cheering up a poor person. The Gra cites the source for this Rambam in the pasuk Devarim 15:10. The Sefer Hachinuch 479 seems to adopt the same approach that the mitzvah of tzedaka is to give it with happiness and giving in a begrudging manner isn't a mitzvah. Tzafnat Pane'ach says that the source for the Rambam is Chagiga 5a. Chagiga 5a shows that it is better not to give tzedaka than to give and embarrass the poor person. Avot Drebbe Natan ch. 13 writes that if a person gives someone a lot of presents with his face looking towards the ground it is like he gave him nothing.</ref> | #If one gives tzedaka while expressing a begrudging face one doesn't get any mitzvah even if he gave a very large sum of money. Rather, one is obligated to give him with a nice expression, happiness, empathy for his plight, and with words of encouragement.<ref>The Rambam (Matanot Laniyim 10:4) writes that a person should not give tzedaka with a sour face and if he does he loses his mitzvah. Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 249:3 and Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 34:7 codify this. Radvaz sources it in Bava Batra 9b that a person is rewarded for cheering up a poor person. The Gra cites the source for this Rambam in the pasuk Devarim 15:10. The Sefer Hachinuch 479 seems to adopt the same approach that the mitzvah of tzedaka is to give it with happiness and giving in a begrudging manner isn't a mitzvah. Tzafnat Pane'ach says that the source for the Rambam is Chagiga 5a. Chagiga 5a shows that it is better not to give tzedaka than to give and embarrass the poor person. Avot Drebbe Natan ch. 13 writes that if a person gives someone a lot of presents with his face looking towards the ground it is like he gave him nothing.</ref> | ||
# The Rambam<ref>Matanot | # The Rambam<ref>Matanot Aniyim 10:7-14</ref> and other poskim<ref>Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 249:6-13, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 34:12</ref> list 8 levels of tzedaka: | ||
##The most ideal way to give tzedaka is to give him a job or loan or present before the poor falters so that he won't become poor. | ##The most ideal way to give tzedaka is to give him a job or loan or present before the poor falters so that he won't become poor. | ||
##The next level is to give anonymously so that the donor doesn't know he's giving to and the poor doesn't know who gave it. This can be accomplished with a communal tzedaka box that is administered by someone trustworthy. | ##The next level is to give anonymously so that the donor doesn't know he's giving to and the poor doesn't know who gave it. This can be accomplished with a communal tzedaka box that is administered by someone trustworthy. | ||
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##The next level is to give with a happy face. | ##The next level is to give with a happy face. | ||
##The next level is to give even though one is internally sad but doesn't express it. If a person expresses that he is giving begrudgingly he doesn't get any mitzvah and in fact it is a sin.<Ref>Shach 249:9, Gra 249:16, Badei Hashulchan 249:52</ref> | ##The next level is to give even though one is internally sad but doesn't express it. If a person expresses that he is giving begrudgingly he doesn't get any mitzvah and in fact it is a sin.<Ref>Shach 249:9, Gra 249:16, Badei Hashulchan 249:52</ref> | ||
# One who gives [[Tzedaka]] should do it from the best of his property. If one buys a place of [[prayer]], it should be nicer than his house. One who feeds a poor person should give him from the best things on his table. One who gives clothing to someone who doesn't have should give him from the nicest of his clothing.<ref>Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 248:8, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 34:5 </ref> | |||
===Giving on Numerous Occassions=== | ===Giving on Numerous Occassions=== | ||
