Charity: A Choice or Obligation? Zakat, Alms and 8 Levels of Tzedakah By Maimonides

Charitable Giving in Judaism-Tzedakah

Tzedakah is the Hebrew word for the acts that we call “charity” in English: giving aid, assistance and money to the poor and needy or to other worthy causes. However, the nature of Tzedakah, also spelled S’daqah, is much more than the simple idea of charity. Tzedakah means righteousness, justice or fairness. In Judaism, giving to the poor is not just viewed as a generous, magnanimous act; it is simply an act of justice and righteousness, the performance of a duty, giving the poor their due. So at its root, Tzadekah closely resembles Zakat in Islam (and vice versa).
Tzedakah is a religious obligation:
Giving to the poor is an obligation in Judaism, a religious duty that applies to even those who are in need themselves.

Tzedakah is one of the three acts that gain us forgiveness from our sins. The High Holiday liturgy repeatedly states that G-d has inscribed a judgment against all who have sinned, but teshuvah (repentance), tefilah (prayer) and tzedakah can alleviate the decree. Judiasm 101.  http://www.jewfaq.org/tzedakah.htm

Tzedakah’s essence is very similar to Zakat- it is a religious duty, not a tax and it purifies the wealth and is meant to seek nearness to God, Jewish law requires the Jews to give one-tenth of the income to the poor. At its surface, this amount appears the same as in the case of tithe for many Christian denominations.

 Eight Levels of Giving by Maimonides:

The first level is most preferred and the highest level of Tzedakah, and the eighth and the last is the least preferred.

1. Enabling the recipient to become self-reliant. Some examples include: Giving an interest-free loan to a person in need; giving a grant to a person in need; finding a job for a person in need. In other words, teaching them how to fish rather than giving them the fish.
2. Giving when neither party knows the other’s identity. Giving Tzedakah anonymously to an unknown recipient via a person or public fund which is trustworthy.
3. Giving Tzedakah when you know the recipient’s identity, but the recipient doesn’t know your identity
4. Giving Tzedakah when you do not know the recipient’s identity, but the recipient knows your identity. E.g. giving Tzedakah publicly to an unknown recipient.
5. Giving Tzedakah before being asked.
6. Giving Tzedakah adequately after being asked.
7. Giving willingly, but inadequately.
8. Giving unwillingly or giving begrudgingly. The giving pains the donor.
Maimonides did not elaborate on giving for show but perhaps level 8 includes that.