Tzedakah: The Ancient Jewish Practice That Promises Protection and Blessing

Within the Jewish tradition there is an ancient practice that is not only mentioned in the Bible, but has been considered for centuries as one of the most powerful to bring blessing, protection and justice to the world: tzedakah, which is often translated simply as charity, but in reality means much more: justice, Rectitude, reparation.

The wise men of Israel teach that this precept is so great that its spiritual value is equal to that of all the other commandments put together.
And throughout history, many men and women of the Jewish people have attributed to tzedakah not only “miraculous” salvations, but also the stability and material prosperity of their families.

In this article we will see:

• What tzedakah really is according to the Bible.
• What promises and benefits are attributed to it.
• Because it is a spiritual work and not only an economic one.
• How, to whom and how much to give.
• The eight levels of charity according to Maimonides.

What is tzedakah in the Bible?

In the Bible, charity is not presented as an optional gesture of “goodwill,” but as an act of justice toward the needy.

One of the clearest texts is found in Deuteronomy 15:7–11, where it is commanded to open the hand to the poor brother, not to harden the heart, and not to look down on the needy, even when there is a risk that the borrowed money cannot be repaid (especially near the sabbatical, when debts were canceled).

The teaching is compelling:

Don’t close your hand. Don’t let your heart get hard.
Give, even if you do not recover, for then you will bring blessing upon all your work.

In another passage (Deuteronomy 24:13), when the poor man is commanded to return his garment before nightfall, even if he has not yet paid his debt, it is said that this act will be considered tzedakah for the one who does it.
That is, it is not an extra favor: it is justice before God.

Tzedakah, therefore, is not understood as “giving of what is left over,” but as actively collaborating with the Creator in building a more just world.

Promises and Benefits of Tzedakah

Jewish tradition is full of strong claims about the spiritual power of charity.

Tzedakah “Saves from Death”

Proverbs 10:2 reads:
“The tzedakah saves from death.”

The sages explain that, when a person helps another to get out of hunger, misery or abandonment, he is being a channel of salvation in this world.
And in spiritual logic, what one does for others opens the door to receive a similar measure from Above.

For this reason, in the face of illness, crisis or difficult situations, many teachers recommend:

“Do tzedakah. Become salvation for another, and you will awaken salvation in yourself as well.”

Tzedakah brings blessing to the whole work

Deuteronomy 15 promises that by giving with a good heart to the needy:

“The Lord your God will bless you in every work of your hands.”

The idea is simple and profound:
when you share your blessing with those who don’t have, God takes you as a partner to bring sustenance to the world. And a loyal partner is a partner who continues to be trusted more.

It does not impoverish, it strengthens

Great sages, such as Maimonides, teach that no one is impoverished by giving tzedakah.
What is given with righteous intention:

• It is transformed into spiritual merit.
• Protects.
• It opens paths where there seemed to be no way out.

From this point of view, every coin that is given is not “lost”: it becomes something that transcends this life.

Tzedakah as spiritual work

Beyond the material or protective benefits, tzedakah is above all an inner work.

According to Jewish mysticism:

• The Creator is, by essence, the great Giver.
• Creation (us) is, by nature, receiver.

When a person only thinks about accumulating, he stays at the level of creation: he wants to receive, to hold, to secure.
But when he chooses to give, share, and sustain others, he becomes a little more like the Creator.

Dar tzedakah is:

• Rise above selfishness.
• To break the idea that “everything is mine”.
• Actively participate in the repair of the world (tikkun olam).

It is even taught that by giving charity in a constant and discreet way, the soul becomes more sensitive to the spiritual and opens the door to greater inner inspiration.

To whom should tzedakah be given?

The Bible and tradition indicate that charity should be directed primarily to:

• Poor and needy.
• People without enough food.
• Those who lack shelter or shelter.
• Sick or elderly people who cannot support themselves.

However, an important distinction is made:
it is not a question of giving money blindly, but of ensuring that the aid actually alleviates suffering.

For example:

• Someone with addictions may not want to give cash, but you do want to pay for food, medicine, or part of treatment.
• For a family in an emergency situation, perhaps the most urgent thing is to pay the rent, utilities or basic purchases.

Order of priority suggested by tradition

1. Close family (parents, children, siblings).
2. Relatives and close environment.
3. Poor people from the city itself.
4. Poor people from other cities or countries.

The idea is not to exclude anyone, but to remember that responsibility begins at home and expands outwards.

How much is it recommended to give?

Each person gives according to his or her possibilities, but Jewish tradition offers some guiding references:

• Maximum recommended level: Up to 20% of revenue (for those who can do so without putting themselves at risk).
• Standard measure: about 10% (the classic “tithe”).
• Symbolic minimum: A small amount a year is the lowest acceptable level, but the spiritual expectation is to go far beyond that.

More important than the exact amount is:

• Consistency (giving regularly, even if it is little).
• The intention (to do it with an open heart, not with resentment).

Many households have a small tzedakah piggy bank where they place coins daily before prayer or at the beginning of the day. That daily gesture builds a habit of generosity.

The Eight Levels of Tzedakah According to Maimonides

Maimonides, one of the great sages of Judaism, organized charity into eight levels, from the highest to the lowest:

1. The highest level

Helping the poor to no longer depend on charity:

• Give him a job,
• Partnering with him in a business,
• Offer you a loan that allows you to get back on your feet.

It is the tzedakah that restores dignity and autonomy.

2. Giving without knowing to whom it is given, and that the poor do not know who gave it

It is done through trusted intermediaries.
Thus, there is no pride in the one who gives, nor shame in the one who receives.

3. The giver knows whom he helps, but the poor do not know from whom it comes

It protects the dignity of the needy, who do not feel humiliated.

4. The poor man knows who helped him, but the giver does not identify him directly

It also prevents the giver from being overly magnified by his action.

5. Give before the poor ask

Anticipating the need is an act of great spiritual sensitivity.

6. Give after the poor ask, but with a good disposition

He helps himself with joy and a kind face.

7. Giving with a bad face or reluctantly

Although the outward act is fulfilled, the heart is not yet aligned with the spiritual purpose.

8. The lowest level

Give the minimum, out of pressure or embarrassment, with no real intention of helping.

How to Give Tzedakah in the Best Way

Some practical keys:

• Do it with respect: never humiliate the receiver.
• Do it with joy: avoid giving from complaint or resentment.
• Do it discreetly: whenever possible, protect the dignity of the other.
• Do it consistently: a little bit each day transforms more than a big isolated action.

Conclusion: Partnering with God to Repair the World

tzedakah is not just “giving money.”
It is a concrete way of saying:

“I don’t accept injustice as normal.
I partner with the Creator to bring light where it is lacking.”

Every time you open your hand to the needy:

• You’re doing justice.
• You’re healing a small part of the world.
• You are transforming your own heart.

And, according to the biblical promise and ancestral wisdom,
that justice that you sow in the lives of others will also become a blessing for yours.

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