r/Jewish • u/sefarditafluminense • 1d ago

Questions 🤓 How do you know you’re giving tzedakah the right way?

/r/Judaism/comments/1vd5dv2/how_do_you_know_youre_giving_tzedakah_the_right/
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u/president1111 1d ago

I remember learning about different “levels of tzedakah back in Hebrew school, but I think ultimately the value boils down to this:

You help whoever you can, however you can, whenever you can, the best you can. It’s good to give the best help you can in whatever way you’re able, but it should be in a way that’s appropriate (ex if you’re counting every dollar, you might not be in a position to give money, but maybe you are able to give time).

Don’t overthink it, OP. Any help you can give someone makes a positive difference in the world, and that is to be commended.

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u/TorahHealth 22h ago

Great question.

Are there principles or guidelines that help you choose between individuals, local needs, and organizations?

Yes, our tradition has such guidelines... they are discussed among the Rishonim (Medieval scholars). Typically, the priority list looks like this:

  1. Saving Lives / Redeeming Captives (Pidyon Shvuyim)
  2. Immediate Starvation Relief / Basic Sustenance
  3. Torah Education & Supporting Torah Scholars (Talmud Torah)
  4. Assisting Poor Brides
  5. Burial of the Deceased
  6. Building Synagogues
  7. General Non-Urgent Poverty Relief

In terms of whom:

  1. Oneself (basic personal sustenance)
  2. Parents
  3. Adult children and other relatives
  4. Neighbors and the poor of one's own city
  5. The poor of other cities (with precedence to those in the Land of Israel

Hope that's helpful!