One of the most recognized words in the Jewish lexicon is tzedakah. Though usually translated as charity, the Hebrew-inclined will frequently remind us that the root of the word is tzedek, or justice. The message: that in Jewish tradition the act of supporting those in need is not something done gratuitously but rather compulsorily—one is required to perform tzedakah just as much as one is obligated to respect parents. While this alternate understanding of tzedakah conveys a sense of personal responsibility, I think that viewing acts of tzedakah as an enactment of justice, as well as a form of charity might help us more fully understand the meaning of this integral concept in Jewish tradition.
Maimonides, the famed 12th-century Jewish scholar, wrote an entire treatise on the laws of tzedakah, illustrating that it not only serves the recipient, but also benefits the donor, accentuating virtues of compassion and generosity and leading to personal growth. In other words, tzedakah provides an opportunity to cultivate self-awareness, to foster on an individual level values that are at the core of communal ethics. If only viewed as a mandated responsibility, tzedakah loses this appeal and can easily be overlooked as an element of human development. But if we choose to also highlight its charitable nature, we allow ourselves to tap into the compassion and sympathy that drive us to perform deeds of tzedakah.
Yet the idea of tzedek—think justice and personal responsibility—should still be part of the discussion (Hebrew grammar aside). Jewish tradition has always emphasized the individual mandate to support communal affairs. In biblical times, the Bible targeted the agrarian daily lifestyle, pressing all farmers to leave a corner of their fields untouched for the benefit of the poor. With the formation of Diaspora Jewish communities, every household reserved money for paupers as well as scholars who relied on community support.
Nowadays, the social action craze has taken hold of young and old alike. American teenagers are volunteering in Africa and neighborhood parks are being refurbished. This heightened awareness should also be a motivator for Jews to support organizations and institutions that encourage both continuity and innovation in the Jewish community—which brings me to JPS.
For a whopping 122 years, JPS has continually produced classic Jewish literary works of importance for a contemporary audience. With the ongoing support from the public, JPS has also published innovative works that add to the heritage of scholarly study. Take a look at our website to see what’s new at JPS and perhaps, with a new sense of the dual significance of tzedakah, you will find ways to support our important cause!
For more articles and information about tzedakah, check out these sites:
Chesed and Tzedek: An interview with Ruth Messinger (American Jewish World Service), Yossi Prager (The AVI CHAI Foundation), Simon Greer (Jewish Fund for Justice) featured in Sh’ma.
