One of the misunderstood words in our Holy and life-giving Torah is the word Tzedakah. Translated as charity, this translation points out the problem with all translation.
Charity is a word that speaks to a culture of, “What is mine is mine and what is yours is yours.” Charity calls to the heartstrings of those with surplus wealth…giving often times only when actually confronted with the decrepit and demoralized state of the poor.
A good example of this is the cleft-faced child on the TV commercial asking for a dollar a month to help the ill and destitute. If one is so moved, fine. If not, we revert back to, “What is mine is mine and what is yours is yours.” Continue to Rabbi Hecht’s blog for his complete message.