I felt like I was channeling my parents this week when I heard myself complaining about how I miss "good old days" – when people actually sent handwritten thank you notes and invitations, rather than texing, Facebooking or sending e-vites. Call me old fashioned, but ther'es seomthing nice about getting a real live letter or card from a friend. And while my mail box is full, its contents are mostly bills, advertisements and a host of requests for donations from organizations in need of help.
Over the past few years, those requests have grown exponentially, especially in light of the economic crisis that our country has been living through. Unemployment is still high, the housing market has been underwater, and college tuition and insurance premiums have eroded the confidence of even the most prudent investor. All of which makes me feel more responsible to give to worthy organizations that are struggling to keep their doors open to the many in need of help and services.
I have the privilege of working as a legacy consultant for the Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona, the arm of our Jewish community that “helps individuals and families today invest in a stronger Jewish and global community for tomorrow.” Simply put, we empower people to create lasting legacies for the values they cherish and the organizations they hold most dear.
I get asked a LOT of questions by folks who are trying to develop a strategy for philanthropic giving. Questions like: How much should I give? Should I give now or wait until I die? How do I prioritize my gifts? Should I support Jewish organizations first and then donate to other charities second? Do I need to give up something I enjoy – a dinner out, theater tickets, a trip – to make a more substantial contribution this year?
There is no word for charity in Hebrew. Instead, we speak of tzedakah, which literally means “righteousness.” Tzedakah is the counterpart to tikkun olam, the Jewish obligation to act as God’s partner in repairing the world. Both affirm our responsibility to distribute a part of what we have to take care of others. This is based on the idea that our own wealth is viewed not as a right or entitlement, but as a means to care for the world.
Jewish law is fairly specific in its answer to the question of the amount we should give. Maimonides established specific parameters for giving: Ten percent is average, 20% is ideal, but we should not give more, so that we don’t become impoverished ourselves.
But 10% of what – gross pay, net income, your entire estate? While there are differing opinions, it is generally accepted thatmaaser (Hebrew for tithing) is calculated based on net income.
Think of it like this: God is your business partner and you can deduct the same business expenses, such as taxes, insurance payments and travel expenses, as you would in any legal partnership. For those who want to really figure it out, there are maaser calculators available online!
In terms of prioritizing charitable gifts, the general rule is that “the poor of your own town come before the poor of any other town,” but priority is given to the poor living in the land of Israel. We start with our own family, town and community and then reach out into the larger world, which includes Jews and non-Jews, alike. The Talmud specifically recognizes that any needy person who lives peacefully with us is worthy of charity because of the “ways of peace.”
Another bit of wisdom comes from the Chofetz Chaim, a pious 19th century rabbi and ethicist, who taught that it is better to give smaller sums frequently than a lump sum annually, in order to encourage us to regularly think about the needs of others.
But does giving tzedakah have to hurt? Should we be required to give up something in order to make a meaningful gift? The answer is no, and yes. To give in a Jewish way is to act out of a sense of justice and responsibility – not guilt or dread. Jews neither give because it feels good, nor until it hurts. We are obligated to give for the simple reason that the need exists. But if we have committed to giving by making a pledge, either privately (in our own minds) or publicly, we are obligated to fulfill it even it if “hurts.”
When we give, Jewish tradition asks that we give from our hearts – because it is from our hearts that we need to lead, rather than from our heads. When we look upon the world with compassion, we are more inclined to see the real needs of others and make a gift that is truly meaningful.
During our lives we will have times when our income may be limited or our resources depleted. An unexpected tragedy, the loss of a job or an illness can reduce our estate such that it seems nearly impossible to give. But tzedakah is an “equal opportunity mitzvah” and applies to everyone, no matter how much or how little we have. If we are unable to give of our money, we can give of our time, talents, wisdom and presence. That is why our sages assured us that everyone is capable of giving when they said: “To the one who is eager to give, God provides the means.”
Amy Hirshberg Lederman is a legacy consultant for the Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona as well as an author, Jewish educator, public speaker and attorney. She lives in Tucson and can be reached at alederman@cox.net.
