Tzedakah and Hesed
The Sephardic Jewish sages wrote about acts of kindness, charity (tzedakah), caring for the poor and needy, giving, social responsibility, and social justice. We have gathered from their Torah a few words on these matters in order to increase justice and charity in the world.
Hacham Abraham Alkalay - in which he permits the poor to allow Gentiles to sell at a deducted price without mentioning the festival.
Hacham Abraham Ankava - in which he teaches that it is not prideful for the wealthy to rejoice in their lot and to have a positive influence on others
Hacham Abraham Belaish - in which he teaches that if one is exacting with the poor, one will never give charity in his lifetime
Hacham Abraham Coriat - in which he teaches that it is permissible to fulfill commandments with the intention of receiving a reward
Hacham Abraham Dayan - in which he instructs to take in the poor person into one's home and to sit to eat with him at the same table
Hacham Abraham Entebbe - in which he explains the meaning of robbing from the poor who may not really be poor
Hacham Abraham Hacham - in which he warns not to bring an offering like Cain's, and give crumbs or leftovers
Hacham Avraham David Shalem - in which he teaches that opening one's hand to the poor opens Heaven's treasury to bless his actions
Hacham Eliyahu Benamozegh - in which he clarifies that Man is free and therefore deserves dignity and is responsible for the dignity of others.
Hacham Eliyahu Lavi - in which he teaches that one should remove strife and quarrels from one's home, and distribute one's charity to the poor covertly.
Hakham Abraham Halevi - in which he teaches to give half to his relatives and half to all the other poor.
Hacham Baruch Yerushalmi - in which he clarifies the differentiation made by women of valor between a poor person (‘ani) and a needy person (evion)
Hacham Ben Zion Meir Chai Uziel - in which he interprets 'one God created us' as obligating generosity
Hacham David Kadosch - in which he teaches that while the poor should always eat at one's table, it suffices to lend money to all others
Hacham David Ovadia - in which he tells of the Elijah Association, established to ensure participation in funeral processions
Hacham Haim Ben Attar - in which he explains that the priority given to acquiring a Hebrew slave is meant to limit slavery
Hacham Hezekiah Shabtai - in which he interprets the Priests Blessing as honestly providing for the poor, this being called 'countenance'
Hacham Joseph Benaim - in which he interprets HaLachma 'Ania ("This is the bread of affliction") as what we must provide for the poor
Hacham Joseph Gerji - in which he teaches that one should have loving feelings toward the poor in mind, speech and action
Hacham Yaakov Chaim Sofer - in which he explains the reiteration in "Give to him readily" as giving with a good heart
Hacham Yaakov Hacohen Tarab - in which he teaches not to let your inclination chill you on your way to doing charity, and smite the hindmost of thee
Hacham Yaakov Kuli - in which he teaches about the commandment to sweep and clean the house of a sick person, which is an act of great loving kindness
Hacham Yaakov Shaul Elyashar - in which he explains that those who give charity are judged as [the Almighty's] sons, despite any sins they may have committed
Hacham Yehuda Alkalai - according to which providing work for the poor is the charity that hastens the redemption.
Hacham Yehuda Even Denan - in which he teaches that the wealthy are like funnels used to fill empty vessels
Hacham Yihya Moshe Abudi - in which he teaches to give before the of distress, and that one's heart not be grieved at giving in the hour of distress
Hacham Yihya Shneiur - in which he teaches to give charity to the poor and to have it considered a loan so as not to embarrass the needy person
Hacham Yitzchak Buchnik - in which he praises the "hands and feet" of those who make the physical effort to collect charity
Hacham Yitzhak Abulafia - in which he teaches not to be concerned by arrogance when giving charity is publicized, because it may lead to people giving more charity
Hacham Yitzhak Bar Sheshet Perfet - in which he teaches that it is permissible to embark on a caravan and, for reasons of survival, to desecrate the Sabbath
Hacham Yitzhak Eliyahu Laniado - in which he teaches to impose that charity fulfill the commandment by the emissary from the Holy Land.
Hacham Yitzhak Hazzan - in which he teaches us to feel the sorrow of a person crushed under their master's heel
Hacham Yitzhak Salah Machmal - in which he indicates the Talmud Torah's principal charity needs, required for its pupils' minds and bodies
Hacham Yitzhak Shreim - in which he teaches to be patient with the poor, and to always listen when they speak
Hacham Yosef Haim - in which he instructs benefactors to appoint people who have suffered poverty to handle their charity
Hacham Yosef Kapach - in which he recounts the amendment to support street cleaners during the periods when they have no income.
Hacham Yosef Massass - in which he teaches that there should be something to benefit the poor in the house of every member of the people of Israel
Hacham Yosef Yitzhak Chelouche - in which he teaches the obligation to eulogize charitable people as a Torah scholar's obligation
Hacham Yoseph Elmaliakh - in which he rules to not raise the rent of a house when the landlord remained silent although prices had risen.
Hacham Yoseph Rubin Elkabelah - in which he teaches to gather strength by giving charity and being glad and of good cheer.
Hacham Kalphon Moshe Hacohen - in which he clarifies [the prophesy that] that the liberation of Zion will take place through the judgement of nations, but the return to it through charity
Hacham Mas'oud Hai Rokach - in which he teaches that once an intention is voiced, even though it has yet to come to pass, it is as though it has been fulfilled
Hacham Meir Toledano - in which he explains that the women came adorned with their jewels and then removed them
Hacham Moshe Dayyan - in which he teaches that one who lingers and keeps a counterfeit coin in his possession passes the Ne'ilah prayer in transgression.
Hacham Mullah Mattityah Garji - in which he teaches that dwellings should be prepared in large numbers to house the wretchedly poor.
Hacham Nachman Angel - in which he teaches that those who are accustomed to giving charity obtain the three attributes of charity
Hacham Nissim Hacohen Rabin - in which he teaches to give twice to the poor person, once to appease his suffering and once to fulfill the commandment.
Hacham Nissim Hacohen Rabin - in which he teaches to give twice to the poor person, once to appease his suffering and once to fulfill the commandment.
Hacham Nissim Trabelsi - in which he teaches that it is preferable to give foodstuffs rather than money to the needy
Hacham Sliman David Sasson - in which he teaches that whoever has a sense of integrity and justice, must take action
Hacham Amor Abitbol - in which he teaches that charity is a face to face encounter, as when a person kisses a friend
Hacham Ezra Zion Melamed - in which he teaches not to sit down for the Sabbath dinner without having first cared for the local poor
Hacham Wobasht Ayetgav - in which he teaches that it is forbidden to take money from people who request a blessing or advice.
Hacham Rakhamim Melamed Hacohen - in which he teaches that one who is excessive in his meals embarrasses his guest
Hacham Raphael Abraham Shalom Mizrachi Sharabi - in which he teaches that that Noah found grace, despite not being righteous in all his deeds, because he did not engage in robbery
Hacham Raphael Elashvili - in which he teaches that "all Israel" unite to become one society, and that all have a place in the World to Come
Hacham Raphael Haim Moshe Ben Naim - that praise Israel [Jews] in the Diaspora who purchase a home in the Land of Israel for the purpose of welcoming guests
Hacham Raphael Kadir Tzaban - in which he interprets 'from every person whose heart so moves him' as soothing the poor - for those who cannot afford to give charity
Hacham Reuven Timtsitiat - in which he explains the qualities of a woman of valor, whose righteousness cannot be extinguished by a transgression
Hacham Sasson Shanduch - in which he instructs to be more compassionate towards orphans and widows than towards others
Hacham Shem Tob Gaguine - in which he teaches the morality found in matzah and sukkah – the rich person cannot boast with his wealth
Hacham Shimon Abecassis - in which he teaches that a person who deals in Torah but not in charity is like a person without God
Hacham Shimon Agassi - in which he teaches that the Holy One, Blessed be He, did not create humans as perfect beings so that they would need one another
