According to Deuteronomy 15:8, it is a commandment to give charity to the poor. Technically, the commandment is to lend to the poor, but this is a high-risk loan, and R. Yeshua tells us to lend without expecting it back (Luke 6:34-35). So, this boils down to a command to give charity.
Also according to R. Yeshua, “Give to him who asks you, and don’t turn away him who desires to borrow from you,” Matt. 5:42 (HNV). R. Yeshua does not allow us to turn down anyone who asks for charity. This may not be a popular idea, since we are often skeptical about whether or not beggars actually need to be begging, but it is not our job to make that judgment.
R. Israel Meir Kagan (ztz”l)* says that we only have to give to Jews and Noahides who beg from us. This is based on the fact that Deuteronomy 15:7 says that this is for our “brothers.” We should remember, though, R. Yeshua’s statement that anyone who follows God is our brother (Matt. 12:50). We should be careful, then, and it is better to give when we are not required to than to keep from giving when we are. Always give the benefit of the doubt.
I should point out that R. Yeshua does not say that we have to give exactly what a person asks for, and R. Kagan (ztz”l) says that we should give him what he is lacking. If he needs food, give him food. If he needs clothes, give him clothes. This can also be applied to the amount that we give, but don’t be selfish.
In Hebrew, the word “charity” is the same as the word “justice.” We shouldn’t think that charity is something we give because we’re good. It is our duty. When you give to a beggar you haven’t gone beyond your duty, you have given him what he deserves. You have given him his right, because he has as much right to eat and be clothed as we do.
*(ztz”l) is an abbreviation for the Hebrew phrase “of blessed memory,” a respectful way of referring to the dead, similar to the English R.I.P. for “rest in peace.”
Good post. Too often we look for the minimum we can give, rather than the maximum, totally missing the point of charity in the first place.
ReplyDeleteYou said, "You have given him his right, because he has as much right to eat and be clothed as we do." I wonder if a better way to put it would be that he has as LITTLE right to eat and be clothes as we do. In other words, God is showing undeserved charity to us by allowing us to have material blessings. We should therefore pass on that charity to others who may be equally undeserving.
That's an interesting thought, but I based that whole idea on the fact that the Hebrew word for "charity" is the same as the word for "justice." The implication seems to be not that it's undeserved, but that it is actually his right.
ReplyDelete