And there is a problem with that, because it connotes, therefore, the concept of giving help to those less fortunate as an expression of caring and love and interest in the welfare of others. 2)

I’m not saying anything is wrong with such a feeling. What I am saying is that the term in Hebrew actually means something a bit different. 3)

Tzedakah. (צדקה) comes from the Hebrew word. Tzedeq. (צדק). Meaning “Justice”. (Though it is also the name for the 5th planet from the sun). 4)

But consider something. If we are expected by Torah rules, to do Justice in all its forms. Then Tzedakah becomes more than something done out of the goodness of our hearts.
5)

It becomes a social and economic imperative, a device to set things fair in a society, an obligation on every member of society. 6)

Worldwide the two nations in which citizens give the most charity on a per capita and per income level bases are the State of Israel followed by the USA. Statistcs show that in both countries, those that are religiously more observant give more of their funds, their time,

and their effort, than doe those who are secular, and frankly the poor do more than the rich in most nations.

On the political left, charity tends to be delegated to the Government, with people giving less of themselves than on the political right, internationally.
8)

But in Judaism, and Christianity and Islam and Hinduism, that is not sufficient. Charity is not something one can just delegate and feel OK with that. 9)

Think about it. What has greatest potential impact — on the giver and the society — help as a social obligation to establish justice???

Or giving out of the goodness of one’s heart ????" 10)