Rambam's Eight Levels of Tzedakah: Education with Rabbi David

by Rabbi David

That's family bonding, charity, or animal cruelty. I can't tell you. (Photo: Learn to Fish on Yelp)

The Rambam gives us beautiful insight into how to give Tzedakah. This is found in the Mishnah Torah Laws of Gifts to the Poor 10:7-14. Let's delve.

Level 8: The giver is pained by the act of giving
Who doesn't hate giving?! Known simply as Tzedakah, this is when you give charity. For instance, when somebody is in need, and you do a kind deed and give them money to help them out. When you take that money and give it, you feel a sharp pain in your shoulder, known as kindness.
This also known as dues.

Level 7: They give less than they should but does so cheerfully
Of course they're cheerful, they're barely giving anything. They're saving money on this.
This is when they come around with the Tzedakah box at shul and you put in a dollar. ​I've never seen anybody put more than a dollar into the Pushke box.

Level 6: Gives after being solicited
This is when you're stuck at a red light and a stranger knocks on your window. You're scared. To ward off the potential threat, you pull out a dollar and get them angrier.
This is also when a stranger comes to your front door. You give them money in fear they'll break in. Then they see you have a wallet and you end up giving more.
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Level 5: Donor gives without being solicited
This never happens. I've been on a member of congregations around the world. This has never happened.
The closest thing to this is when you get a calendar for Rosh Hashanah, and you feel bad that these people have been chasing you for eighteen years. So, you give them Chai dollars. Eighteen dollars of generousness. You feel you've done your job in helping purchase a house for the homeless children in Israel. 
If it ever does happen, if somebody donates from their heart, you'll find out. There will be a plaque.

Level 4: Recipient knows the donor but donor doesn't know recipient
You'll know who you gave it to when you get nasty looks at shul for being cheap.

Level 3: Donor knows the recipient but recipient doesn't know donor
You give money and you're constantly asking yourself why this guy can't get a job. And then they end up pledging two-hundred dollars for Maftir.

Level 2: Neither donor nor recipient knows the other
Somebody else is stealing this money.

Level 1: Donor gives recipient the wherewithal to be self-sustaining   
This is the highest level of charity, as you're not even giving charity. Hence, it's also the most beloved form of Tzedakah.
The greatest way to help somebody according to our rabbis is not to give them the fish, but to teach them how to fish. You give them an activity to get their mind of the fact that they're broke. Help them escape from their messed up lives for a few minutes with something to do. Maybe they'll forget they're hungry.

Nowhere does the Rambam say to give a lot of Tzedkah. He knows nobody will do that. Tithing is also not mentioned as a level here. He knows.
The greatest level, which the Rambam doesn't mention, is when there is a building put up with your name on it.