Our Values

Members of the AJF are working together to strengthen the understanding and practice of Tzedakah in what we see as an exciting new age of philanthropy.

Tzedakah is the traditional Jewish practice of giving assistance to people in need. The basis of Tzedakah lies in the Jewish ideals of 'righteousness', 'justice' and 'fairness'.

The closest equivalent in English is 'charity', but this word in its general use does not convey the sense of obligation embodied in Tzedakah. This obligation is expressed within the Talmud and requires Jewish people to provide assistance to both Jewish and non-Jewish recipients.

The manner in which the assistance is provided is of fundamental importance in Tzedakah and affects the value that the assistance has in Jewish thinking.

The famous medieval Jewish scholar Rabbi Moses Maimonides expressed it thus: "Whoever gives tzedakah to the poor with a sour expression and in a surly manner, even if he gives a thousand gold pieces, loses his merit. One should instead give cheerfully and joyfully, and empathize with him in his sorrow..." (http://just‑tzedakah.org/sagesMorethanmoney.asp).

Maimonides described eight levels of Tzedakah in ascending order of merit:

1. giving begrudgingly
2. giving less than the proper amount, but giving cheerfully
3. giving only after being asked
4. giving without being asked
5. giving when the donor doesn't know who the recipient is but the recipient knows who the donor is
6. giving when the donor knows who the recipient is but the recipient doesn't know who the donor is
7. giving when neither donor not recipient knows who the other is
8. giving in a way that enables the recipient to become self-sufficient.

For more information about Tzedakah, please visit http://just‑tzedakah.org/traditionHome.asp