Caring for others in the Jewish tradition is mutli-faceted. It is not as simple as writing check when we feel like it. It is much more complex.
One story tells of a poor yeshiva bachur (student) who studied all day long and depended on the generosity of the own to feed him This particular yeshiva bachur was sitting at the table of one of the town's matriarchs. He sat before a plate of noodle soup. Bending over, he put his ear to the bowl.
"What are you doing?" inquired the woman.
"Shh. I am listening to the noodles talking."
"What are they saying?"
"One noodle is calling to the other, 'Where are you?'"
A cute story but like all good stories, it contains an element of truth. Those are dependent on us should not have to resort to pleading or begging. We only have things to share. We must not be stingy with what God has placed in our care.
So how dd we know when and what to give the poor? This is spelled out by the great code of Jewish law:
"How much should one give to the poor? Whatever it is that the person needs. How is this to be understood? If the person is hungry, feed them. If she needs clothes, she must be provided with clothes. If he has no furniture or utensils for his home, he must be given furniture and utensils... If he needs to be spoon-fed then we must spoon feed him." Shulchan Aruch YD 250:1
It is not hard to find the needy. They are all around us, providing us with opportunities to do what God believes we are capable of doing.
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