Tzedakah
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Tanakh
versions:
Throughout this site I will
use the following three versions of the TaNaKh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917),
2. “Sefaria.org” (SEF), and 3. “Mechon-Mamre.org” (MEC).
Colour coded details of
the - TaNaKh:
1. Torah = History &
Law, 2. Nevi’im =
The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.
*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical
books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song
of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and
Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and
Chronicles I & II.
Please Note: Some alterations have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ having been corrected as it once was, pre the “Masoretic Text”.
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Remember the following three truth’s from our beloved Scriptures!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which
I command you, neither shall ye diminish from it, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם (the LORD your Elo’lei’chem) which I command you”. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 4:2.
“This is My Name FOREVER, and this is My Memorial to ALL Generations”. Shemot - Exodus 3:15. (JPS).
“I am יְהוָה, that is My Name; and My glory will I
not give to another”.
Yeshayahu - Isaiah 42:8. (JPS).
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With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben
Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
“Be strong and courageous. Be careful to obey the entire Torah My servant Moshe has given you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Torah depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
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Introduction:
Tzedakah - צְדָקָה - Is frequently translated as ‘charity’; however the correct translation is “Righteousness”.
The root of the word, ‘Tzedek’, means justice, which denotes how it is viewed within our Hebraic community. Tzedakah is a religious obligation, and not just an optional charity, however if you have money, regardless how much, you must give where it is desperately needed! It is a commandment, and an obligation. Tzedakah - צְדָקָה should see the humanity in each and every one of us, and exalt uplift, honour, support, defend, and yes even fight for the person in need. Of course, even if we can give only a little, yet any kind of gift that is given with love, is good!
Hebrew word צְדָקָה meaning “Righteousness”, but as I already indicated above commonly it is used to signify charity. This concept of “charity” differs from the modern Western understanding of “charity”. The latter is typically understood as a spontaneous act of goodwill and a marker of generosity; Tzedakah is an ethical obligation, and it is not the kind of “charity”, but a way to empower poor people to support themselves, thus helping them in developing their talents as well as their skills.
Tzedakah (Tzedaka) refers to the religious obligation to do what is right and just, which Judaism emphasizes as an important part of living a spiritual life. Unlike voluntary philanthropy, tzedakah is seen as a religious obligation that must be performed regardless of one's financial standing, and so is a mandatory gift even for those with a limited financial means. Tzedakah is considered to be one of the three main acts that can positively influence for wellbeing for those who have received.
The word Tzedakah is based on the Hebrew (צדק - Tzedeq), meaning righteousness, fairness, or justice, and is related to the Hebrew word Tzadik, meaning righteous as an adjective (or righteous individual as a noun in the form of a substantive). Although the word appears 157 times in the Masoretic Text of the Hebrew Bible, typically in relation to “righteousness” per se, its use as a term for "charity" in the above sense is an adaptation of Rabbinic Judaism in Talmudic times.
In the Middle Ages, Maimonides conceived of an eight-level hierarchy of tzedakah, where the highest form is to give a gift, loan, or partnership that will result in the recipient becoming self-sufficient instead of living upon others. In his view, the second highest form of tzedakah is to give donations anonymously to unknown recipients.
Root word
and pictographic meaning:
צ Tsade - seeker/pursuit:
Scriptural force: Elohim calls the people to seek justice; righteousness begins with intentional pursuit, not passive sympathy. The pictograph of the hook or seeker makes the verb a deliberate action: we go after what is right and do not let injustice lie.
ד Dalet - door / access:
Scriptural force: Many Torah commands regulate access — to the land, to the courts, to ritual life; in social ethics Dalet images restoring entry to what was denied. Tzedakah, therefore, must aim to open doors: legal access, economic opportunity, a restored place in the household or town.
ק Qof - return /
wholeness:
Scriptural force: ovenant life is cyclical and restorative; the Qof pictograph captures that what is broken must be made whole again in the community’s “back” or support. This is the social healing that results when a rightful place is restored.
ה He
- reveal / make manifest:
Scriptural force: Elohim’s acts and human covenantal repairs are visible and testify to Elohim’s presence; He shows the result — righteousness is a revealed state, an enacted sign of covenant fidelity.
Combining the above in reading: “Seek (Tsade) to open the door (Dalet) so that wholeness returns (Qof) and is made manifest (He) within the framework and boundaries of the Torah.”
Tzedakah in the Torah is not sentiment or optional giving; it is the people’s
active work there willpower to overcome themselves and restore covenantal order and human
dignity so that communal wholeness becomes visible.
Precedents in
ancient Israel:
The Tanakh (Hebrew Scritures) teaches the obligation to aid those in need but does not employ one single term for this obligation. In the Septuagint this was sometimes translated as ‘eleemosyne’, It originates from the Greek word ‘eleos’ (ἔλεος), which means pity or compassion, which will lead to being charitable.
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In Conclusion, a Question
to Deepen the Conversation:
Which part of the Tanakh study, or possibly a particular line or
statement within it has touched you the most? And how do you feel
about spending more time studying our beloved Tanakh? I pray that you are doing
well as a faithful Hebrew, and אֱלֹהִים - Elohim willing you are upholding as many of our
blessed Mitzvoth’s?
Dear reader, please remember this, pray for peace and solitude in
your life, and then work on keeping as calm as possible and learn to improve
your life, for אֱלֹהִים - בָּרוּךְ
אֱלֹהִים - Bless Elohim, He is
always there and ready to help and guide you!
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PLEASE NOTE: If you need assistance in some way, just ask, I can email you special items to help you with whatever you may need, etc! Just email me (using the link further below) and I will send it to your email, without any follow up whatsoever, or any requests from me! The email is just down this page.
This site was originally for those who needed to
return to our blessed and wonderful faith, thus be wise and work on your faith
and pray at least two or of possible three times a day and always seek אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s
guidance! But as you may have discovered it has become very much a teaching
site!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following, via a
number of our prophets...
“Return unto Me,
and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. MEC).
And Remember ...
Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat
Shalom!
אֲנִי יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה
(the LORD your Elo’hei’chem);
walk in My statutes, and keep Mine
ordinances, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign
between Me and you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - YaHVaH your Elo’hei’chem”. Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).
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“The More Torah, the More Life”.
For our Elohim is the One who gave us our ... Life!
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you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the ‘מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your
daily תְּפִלָּה - Te’fee’lah’s (Prayers) and
regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s (blessings) before food and
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שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi,
Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
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