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Post by mystic on Jul 4, 2021 3:12:43 GMT -8
Is there some scripture preventing Jews from accepting help from another person or is it simply pride not wanting to accept help directly from another person?
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Post by alon on Jul 4, 2021 13:27:09 GMT -8
Is there some scripture preventing Jews from accepting help from another person or is it simply pride not wanting to accept help directly from another person?
Deuteronomy 15:7,11 “If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, … For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’
Proverbs 3:27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.
They are encouraged to give in scripture:Isaiah 58:10 ESV If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.
Proverbs 14:31 ESV Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.
They are told they will be blessed if they give:Isaiah 58:10-11 If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
Proverbs 22:9 Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
Psalm 41:1-3 To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him; the Lord protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; you do not give him up to the will of his enemies. The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health.
And in Judaism, the poor are even thought to have the right to our help:Proverbs 29:7 A righteous man knows the rights of the poor; a wicked man does not understand such knowledge.
Proverbs 31:9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.
My wife is Jewish, though she converted to Christianity. My experience with Jews has been that they are very generous people, both in supporting organizations that help Jews as well as others, and they are also very generous on an individual basis. Note: all scriptures from the ESV. |
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Post by mystic on Jul 5, 2021 3:02:13 GMT -8
I have been told by many Jews that they "don't accept charity which would be too denigrating for them. They would rather live in extreme poverty and help their children on their own (at the expense of food and clothing), without accepting charity."
When I had asked an Orthodox Rabbi then why do they accept it from an Organization the response was "It appears to me that people are less embarrassed to take from an organization, because the focus of the organization is give, and the person who receives feels that he is just one of many. On the other hand, when receiving from an individual, the person feel singled out for his poverty."
This response reminded me of an episode of Little House on the Prairie back in the 70s where an elderly Jewish Woodworker took on Albert a gentile as an apprentice. Albert wanted something the woodworker had and the woodworker asked Albert if he had anything to trade for it, Albert replied no.
The woodworker asked Albert to empty his pocket then took a piece of lint from Albert's pocket and said he can use that. He then said to Albert, whenever you give something to someone never make them feel less than, protect and respect their dignity.
I can understand the concept just that I personally don't have a problem accepting help from anyone for anything so maybe is why it's hard for me to agree with that concept.
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Post by alon on Jul 5, 2021 5:51:30 GMT -8
I have been told by many Jews that they "don't accept charity which would be too denigrating for them. They would rather live in extreme poverty and help their children on their own (at the expense of food and clothing), without accepting charity." I suppose Jews are human, so some will be different. too full of pride to accept help. My family is a lot like that, so I can understand it. We helped each other, but never took outside help. A lot of that is just an attitude of self sufficiency. When I had asked an Orthodox Rabbi then why do they accept it from an Organization the response was "It appears to me that people are less embarrassed to take from an organization, because the focus of the organization is give, and the person who receives feels that he is just one of many. On the other hand, when receiving from an individual, the person feel singled out for his poverty." This response reminded me of an episode of Little House on the Prairie back in the 70s where an elderly Jewish Woodworker took on Albert a gentile as an apprentice. Albert wanted something the woodworker had and the woodworker asked Albert if he had anything to trade for it, Albert replied no. The woodworker asked Albert to empty his pocket then took a piece of lint from Albert's pocket and said he can use that. He then said to Albert, whenever you give something to someone never make them feel less than, protect and respect their dignity. Protecting the dignity of the one receiving help is important. Maimonides’ in his Mishneh Torah, Laws of Gifts to the Poor 10:7-14 lists 8 rungs of charitable giving, 1 being highest:
1. Business or Employment Partnerships with the Poor
2. Anonymous Giving and Receiving
3. When the Donor Knows Who the Recipient Is
4. When the Recipient Knows Who the Donor Is
5. When Both Donor and Recipient Know, But Gift Precedes Request
6. When the Recipient Has to Ask for Help
7. When Gift is Given Willingly
8. When Given Grudgingly
There is obviously a lot more explanation of each category. But this list exemplifies 2 important principles in giving:
1. the heart condition of the giver
2. protecting the dignity of the recipient
The term translated "charity" is "tzedikah," but as usual an English translation does not accurately define the term. Tzedikah can mean giving, or charity, but also means justice. In Jewish thought the 2 are inseparable. As I indicated in the last post, the poor are entitled to our help. God gives to us so we may bless those less fortunate. And in return we are blessed. To turn down charity is to deny the potential giver a blessing.
I can understand the concept just that I personally don't have a problem accepting help from anyone for anything so maybe is why it's hard for me to agree with that concept. To accept charity if you don't need it is to rob someone else of the benefaction; to turn down charity when your family needs it is to deny them provision; but even the poor must give to those less fortunate than themselves. So if you were to be the recipient of more than you absolutely need, simply pass the blessing on to someone who does need it. |
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Post by mystic on Jul 6, 2021 4:27:12 GMT -8
So I guess I can give up on trying to help any individual personally in Israel and just continue giving to whatever Organizations.  though for as mentioned these organizations do not want any contact with any average donor, all they want is your money. If one was to donate thousands of dollars then you would be a priority for them sighhhhhh. |
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Post by alon on Jul 6, 2021 9:57:40 GMT -8
So I guess I can give up on trying to help any individual personally in Israel and just continue giving to whatever Organizations. though for as mentioned these organizations do not want any contact with any average donor, all they want is your money. If one was to donate thousands of dollars then you would be a priority for them sighhhhhh.
It is much more efficient and effective this way. So unless you know someone in Israel, and know absolutely they need the money, and can commit to giving them a livable amount each month then you are much better off giving to an organization that is set up to help. |
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- there are 70 faces to 
though for as mentioned these organizations do not want any contact with any average donor, all they want is your money. If one was to donate thousands of dollars then you would be a priority for them sighhhhhh.
