February 13, 2012 Binyamin Rose: Back to the Bunker: How a life-risking act by a Christian family during the Holocaust saved a family and built a thriving community a world away Danielle Kurtzleben: The Peace Process is over. Finally Susan Johnston: The Myth of Economic Inequality Menachem Wecker: Business Schools Teach Real Estate Despite Troubled Housing Market The Kosher Gourmet by Diane Rossen Worthington: Farro Salad: An ancient grain is now new again as the base of a tasty tangle of flavorsome vegetables, chickpeas and salami February 10, 2012 Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo: The biblical case against small-mindedness involved diminishing His precious prophet Caroline B. Glick: The Peace Process is over. Finally Lisa M. Krieger: Man with defibrillator demands access to his own heart's information David G. Savage: Why activists may not be in a hurry to have High Court rule on alternative marriage Rachel Koning Beals: Gen X Women Continue to Shrink Gender Investing Gap The Kosher Gourmet by Faith Durand: Who Says You Can't Make Restaurant Favorites at Home?: MANGO AND STICKY RICE February 9, 2012 Jeff Strickler: An argument a day keeps the divorce away, they say Clifford D. May: CAIR's Crusade against The Third Jihad Melissa Healy: Study finds jolt to the brain boosts memory Laura McMullen: 10 Least Expensive Public Schools for Out-of-State Students Kimberly Palmer: How to actually enjoy -- relaxing, financially -- your vacation Emily Brandon: 10 Necessities for a Great Retirement Spot The Kosher Gourmet by Diane Rossen Worthington: Winter Squash and Red Swiss Chard Risotto is Colorful Cozy Cold Weather Fare (includes detailed dos and don'ts) February 8, 2012 Rivy Poupko Kletenik: Tree hostility: The auspicious history of the evolution of Tu B'Shevat Steven Emerson: Planting Trees is Racist?! Warren Richey: Why momentous Prop. 8 ruling might not satisfy gay-rights groups Anne Applebaum: Russia's Potemkin democracy Menachem Wecker: Though Controversial, LL.M.'s Can Lead to Specialized Legal Jobs Emily Brandon: 10 Necessities for a Great Retirement Spot The Kosher Gourmet byDana Velden: Going to the bother of making soup? You know it better be good. This CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP certainly is! And it's a cinch to make, too (Includes techinques and serving secrets) February 7, 2012 Kathleen Hennessey and Christi Parsons: Obama not worried that birth-control move will hurt his re-election chances with Catholics, other faithful Caroline B. Glick: Obama's rhetorical storm Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Caught off-guard? President's Super Bowl interview with Matt Lauer gives those who need a reason not to vote for him, a darn good one Suzanne Bohan: Leaping lizards! 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Krieger: Possible breakthrough in preventing Alzheimer's Emily Brandon: How to Take Advantage of New 401(k) Fee Disclosures Susan Johnston: 5 Apps for Organizing Your Expenses at Tax Time The Kosher Gourmet by Mario Batali: The famed chef's Broccoli and White Bean Soup can easily be a lunch in itself, or a nice antipasto --- and is hard to mess up January 31, 2012 Paul Greenberg: Separation of Church and State works two ways Caroline B. Glick: Hamas and the Washington establishment Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: Uncle Sam is joining in efforts to crack down on Islamists' critics Danielle Kurtzleben: The 10 Worst Cities for Finding a Job Laura McMullen: 3 Tips to Overcome a Bad Grade in College The Kosher Gourmet by Faith Durand: Orzo dish mixes plump, chewy grains with caramelized onions, garlic, mushrooms and sweet potato January 30, 2012 Rabbi Avi Shafran: Blind faith and physics Paul Richter and Ramin Mostaghim: Misreading Teheran's limits -- deadly and economically devastating as they may be -- is a risk administration, Europe seem willing to take Suzanne Bohan: Warning: Nap-deprived tots missing more than sleep, study finds Meg Handley: Banks Revamping Rewards Programs to Woo Customers Menachem Wecker: 3 Do's and Don'ts for Healthy Studying in College The Kosher Gourmet by Diane Rossen Worthington: Butternut Squash Gratin with Tomato Fondue is a combination of the sweet and creamy January 27, 2012 Rabbi Berel Wein: What Pharaoh can teach us sophisticates about being stubborn Caroline B. 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Jewish World Review March 27, 2006 / 27 Adar, 5766 Priority in charitable giving By Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir Since our resources are limited, we can't help everyone in the world. Who do we help first? http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | Q: Our community has a charity fund, but there are many opinions on how we should distribute them. Some say we should focus on members of our congregation, while others go so far as to favor aid to developing nations. What does Jewish tradition state? A: Jewish law recognizes that any needy person who lives in peaceful coexistence with us is a worthy charity recipient. The Talmud teaches that we should help support the poor even outside our own community, because of the "ways of peace". (1) At the same time, the vast number of needy people and our limited resources mean that we have to establish priorities. Our Sages learn that the language of the Torah itself contains the key to these priorities. "When there will be a needy person from among your brethren, in one of your gates in your land that the Lord your G-d has given you, don't harden your heart and don't close your hand from your needy brother. Surely open your hand and lend him according to his need that is lacking to him" (Deuteronomy 15:7-8). Rashi's commentary points out that the description of the poor person uses the relatively unusual word "needy," indicating that the neediest individuals come first. And the mention of "your gates" indicates that the poor of your city precede those from other cities. A similar inference is made from a verse in Exodus (22:24). "When you lend to my people, to the poor among you, don't dun him for the debt; don't impose usury." As Rashi explains, this teaches that "my people" precede members of other nations, while the word "poor" shows that a poor person precedes a better off one, even though even a wealthy person may sometimes be in need of temporary aid. "Among you" — the poor of your city come before those of other places. From both sources we can see the special value of giving loans, rather than outright gifts. Jewish law considers loans as generally the highest form of charity. Among the advantages of loans: they don't embarrass the recipient; they represent a "vote of confidence" that the person will eventually establish himself; and they don't cultivate dependency to the same extent as gifts do. Of course there are many cases where loans are impractical, but the above verses do remind us of their special value when applicable. One reason why "charity begins at home" is a practical one. Since our resources are limited, we can't reasonably help everyone in the world, so we might as well start with the people who are closest to us, whose needs we can most easily evaluate, and who are most likely to be able to reciprocate the need as people's fortunes are subject to vicissitudes. The Talmud learns from the same passage in Deuteronomy that "Poverty is a turning wheel" — today's donor may be tomorrow's recipient. (2) But there is also a deeper reason to favor those close to us. In many places we find that the commandment of charity is carried out in a way which cultivates our feeling of generosity. This is best done with the people closest to us. A similar message is found in the verse "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18). While it would have been enough to command "Love your neighbor," the addition "as yourself" reminds us that a person who doesn't love himself will find it hard to love his neighbor. Likewise, a person who doesn't show genuine concern for members of his own community will find it hard to sustain feelings of concern beyond it. So the laws of charity mandate a set of "concentric circles" of concern. So for a community charity fund, the main emphasis in charitable giving should be on the local community, and for cases of real deprivation. When congregation members are in significant need they should have priority over outsiders. Some lesser but still meaningful amount should also be earmarked for other needy individuals in your area and for cases of extreme deprivation beyond, so that we can also promote the ways of peace. SOURCES:: (1) Babylonian Talmud, Gittin 59b. (2) Babylonian Talmud, Shabbas 151b Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes inspiring articles. Sign up for our daily update. It's free. Just click here. THE JEWISH ETHICIST, NOW IN BOOK FORM You've enjoyed his columns on JWR for years. Now the Jewish Ethicist has culled his most intriguing — and controversial — offerings in book form. HARDCOVER PAPERBACK Sales help fund JWR. JWR contributor Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir, formerly of the Council of Economic Advisers in the Reagan administration, is Research Director of the Business Ethics Center of Jerusalem, Jerusalem College of Technology. To comment or pose a question, please click here. Previously: Trolls and ogres How many hours of work is too many? Can I promote my product by having it unobtrusively written into a story? He's not heavy he's my brother All's fair in war?, II All's fair in war? Girth vs. worth Is it proper to tax bequests? Ethics of Being Overweight Penalized for working swiftly When is it a bluff? 'Rate and switch' My paycheck is late! Should schools cater to an elite? All's fair in love? Comfort and Competition Do I need the caller's permission to put a call on the speakerphone? Overtime for lost time Is it unethical to play suppliers against each other to get the lowest bid possible? Do family members have precedence in charity allotments? 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