Practicing Tzedakah: The Importance of Philanthropy in the Jewish Community

In the Tanakh, the term “tzedakah” means “righteous behavior,” but for most Jews today the term has become synonymous to charitable giving. 

Giving to those in need is tackled in the Torah. The Torah says that “…there will never cease to be needy ones in your land, which is why I command you: open your hand to the poor and needy kinsman in your land” (Deuteronomy 15:11). The Torah reminds people that they have an obligation to help the people around them.

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“And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. And you shall not glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather every grape of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and stranger; I am the Lord your God.”—Leviticus 19:9-10

For example, in the passage above, the Torah instructs farmers to allot a part of their harvested goods to feed others. This is a tradition that is still evident in today’s Jewish communities. 

Aside from allocating a percentage of their earnings for the poor, Jewish communities have started voluntary societies to care for the sick, assist newlywed couples, bury the dead, and offer interest-free loans to the disadvantaged. For modern Jewish groups, the act of giving became a part of their lifestyle as well as a distinguishing feature of the whole Jewish population.

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 Ronald Safdieh is the president of Dameron Fine Art, a Jewish K-8 school for boys in Lakewood, New Jersey. He and the school aim to help the youth understand the concepts behind the Jewish life. Visit this Facebook page for more information about Jewish education.