Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site cbdkc1.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!cbdkc1!ask 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