Jewish teachings on wealth and poverty

1
Jewish teachings on wealth and poverty
2
Define the following words -

• Tzedakah
• Gemilat chassadim
• Pushkes
• Tzedek

GCSE EXAMINATION QUESTION Describe the ways in
which Jews help the poor and explain why they do
so.
3
Should Jews care for the poor?

• Yes
• Why should they?
• God decides who will be rich and who will be
  poor. Those that have been blessed with money
  should share it with the poor.
• Jews believe that everyone has a duty to help the
  poor.

4
Tzedaka

• Tzedaka is the Hebrew word for justice and
  charity.
• Jews should give a tenth of their income to the
  poor.
• Jews often give money to the poor before the
  weekly lighting of the Sabbath candles and at
  annual festivals.

5
Gemilat chassadim

• Gemilat chassadim means kind actions
• The poor can be helped in ways that do not
  involve money
• Taking time to help or to say a kind word to the
  poor is a form of charity

6
Pushkes

• These are special Jewish collection boxes
• They are kept in the home and collections are
  made for charity
• Children add small contributions from their
  pocket money to encourage them to think of others

7
TZEDEK

• This is a Jewish charity formed in 1990
• The charity helps the poor to become self
  supporting
• It provides short term and long term aid
• It makes Jews aware of poverty in the world and
  helps them to respond to poverty

8
What do Jewish holy books say about the poor?

• The Torah says, There will always be some
  Israelites who are poor and in need, and so I
  command you to be generous to them.
• It is the duty of all Jews to help the poor.

9
Is a poor person obliged to do anything for
charity?

• Yes!
• Even a poor Jew who receives charity is expected
  to give to a poorer person.
• Poor Jews can perform good deeds Gemilat
  chassadim!