I have pondered the question of leaving my job. I have prayed. Below are the answers I received. What is more important? My comfort? Helping someone less fortunate? Yes there are others who can do this job as well or better. But I think of Hillel.
"If I am not for myself, then who will be for me? And if I am only for myself, then what am I? And if not now, when?"
Maimonides defines eight levels in giving charity (tzedakah). Each one is higher than the other. On an ascending level, they are as follows:
8. When donations are given grudgingly.
7. When one gives less than he should, but does so cheerfully.
6. When one gives directly to the poor upon being asked.
5. When one gives directly to the poor without being asked.
4. Donations when the recipient is aware of the donor's identity, but the donor still doesn't know the specific identity of the recipient.
3. Donations when the donor is aware to whom the charity is being given, but the recipient is unaware of the source.
2. Giving assistance in such a way that the giver and recipient are unknown to each other. Communal funds, administered by responsible people are also in this category.
1. The highest form of charity is to help sustain a person before they become impoverished by offering a substantial gift in a dignified manner, or by extending a suitable loan, or by helping them find employment or establish themselves in business so as to make it unnecessary for them to become dependent on others.
Thus it is written: "And you strengthened the stranger who lives with you." i.e. Strengthen him so he won't fall and need your help.
2 comments:
In a recent comment I noticed you wrote God as G_d. Why?
It has become customary for pious traditional English-speaking Jews to write the word as "G-d" -- presumably by analogy with the usual substitution of adonai, "Lord," or even ha-Shem, "the Name," for the proper name of G_d in prayers or Scripture readings. "G-d" is actually a conflation of two commandments, one against blasphemy and the other against destroying or damaging Jewish holy books or holy names -- that is, one writes "G-d" so that one can toss or rip the paper with no qualms later on. Otherwise, one might have to treat the paper as one treats a used Torah scroll or even notes from studying Torah, putting it into a central storage facility and eventually having it buried. (And, yes, by extension one types "G-d," although I think the accepted opinion is that it's OK to delete a file with G_d's name in it in English as long as you don't tear up a printout. Maybe. It's still under discussion.)
Out of respect for this law I feel more comfortable writing G_d. It's sort of like the blasphemy of saying "Jesus Christ" when you stub your toe. Which by the way I also try to avoid doing out of respect for my Christian friends.
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