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From: ask@cbdkc1.UUCP (A.S. Kamlet)
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish
Subject: Re: Re: Charity
Message-ID: <894@cbdkc1.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 4-Mar-85 18:42:53 EST
Article-I.D.: cbdkc1.894
Posted: Mon Mar  4 18:42:53 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 6-Mar-85 02:19:20 EST
References: <695@whuxlm.UUCP> <1282@akgua.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Columbus
Lines: 55

> I think the critical difference is that taxes are always
> assumed to be extracted by force (of law at least) while
> charity is assumed to be a freewill offering of your wealth.
> 
> Doesn't the tithe belong to God under Jewish Law ?
> 
> What I mean is Jews don't give their tithe money to the Red Cross
> do you ?  Would it be channeled through your congregation ?
> 
> 
> Bob Brown {...ihnp4!akgua!rjb}

I can't speak for all Jews, but I certainly give to the Red Cross,
Heart Fund, March of Dimes, MS, MD, United Way, etc., etc.
I also contribute to several Jewish charities, and help to pay for the
costs of operating my synagogue.

In biblical times, the Levis were assigned the role of operating
the tabernacle and, later, the temple.  They were not allocated
any land, and so received what we might today call taxes for
sacrifices to G-d, to pay for the costs of operation and
for their own subsistance.  There is no temple today, and there
are no sacrifices to G-d.  And so there is no longer any such practice
as "collecting taxes to give to G-d."

Now, separate from "taxes" are the commandments ("mitz'-vot")
of "tze-dak'-ah," which means righteous deeds including giving
charity.  Tzedakah has several levels, for example it is better
for the receiver and giver not to know each other than to know each
other.  And it is better to give a loan  (or to "fool" the reciever into
believing that a gift is really a loan, thereby upgrading the
self-respect of the receiver.)   And it is even better to give someone
a job than a gift or a loan.

The mitzvot of tzedakah are incumbent on all Jews.  In fact, even a Jew
who receives tzedakah is bound by the mitzvot of tzedakah.  No matter
how poor people may be, they know they, too, have helped other poor.

What I am legally required to pay someone as part of a business 
transaction, or to pay the government as legally required taxes,
is not related to what G-d requires of me to give to other people
through the mitzvot of tzedakah.  If someone requires legal payment
from me, it is simply not tzedakah, even if some is used for good and
charitable purposes.  So, no matter how much I pay in taxes, I must
ignore this when performing tzedakah.

As I said above, tzedakah is not only money, but also deeds.  What I
don't know is if there is any minimum or maximum amount required.
I know that insultingly small gifts are prohibited since they are
insulting.  And excessively large gifts or deeds that would wear
out the giver, or make him unable to give at least as much
this year as last year, are also wrong.

-- 
Art Kamlet  AT&T Bell Laboratories  Columbus {ihnp4 | cbosgd}!cbrma!ask