Maimonides
[Rambam] wrote, "Even a poor person who
lives entirely on tzedakah must also give tzedakah
to another." (Mishnah Torah Chapter 7)
The Rambam identified EIGHT Levels of Charity,
or doing justice. They are:
1. A person gives but is not happy when s/he
digs into the pocket in order to give.
2. A person gives cheerfully, but gives less
than s/he should.
3. A person gives, but only when asked by a
poor person.
4. A person gives without having to be asked,
but gives directly to the poor. The poor person
knows he gave the help, and the giver knows
who was benefited
5. A person gives a donation in a certain place,
but walks away so that the giver does not know
who received the benefit. The poor person knows
the giver however.
6. A person makes a donation to a poor person
secretly. The giver knows who was benefited,
but the poor person does not know who the giver
was.
7. A person contributes anonymously to the tzedakah
fund which is then distributed to the poor.
8. The highest level of charity is to give money
and help to prevent another person from becoming
poor. For example, teaching a person a trade,
finding them a job, lending money, teaching
them to fish.
