Even today, many nations have not yet fully adopted such lofty practices. For example, our Torah clearly says that when you gather the crops of your field, you should leave the corners for the poor. I could quote many other passages dealing with widows, orphans, the poor, even traveling visitors. But the most succinct and detailed instructions about charity come from the Talmud, which has many specific passages describing the desirable conduct in helping the poor. Let me cite just two from Bava Bathra chapters.
Charity is equal in importance to all other commandments combined.
But what is important is the concept of charity and making it virtually mandatory to all Jews. Having absorbed the teachings of our sacred books, I came to the conclusion that I must engage in charitable activities, to the best of my financial position, because that is one of the important teachings of our faith. Working as a lumberjack and waiter, he earned a degree from the University of Toronto's School of Pharmacy in 1954, followed by an MBA degree in 1959 when he established his own business, distributing medical supplies overseas. His private firm, Novopharm Limited, now employs 2,900 people worldwide, with 170 devoted to research and development. He has won numerous awards for the many charitable causes he has supported, and was honoured by the Jewish National Fund of Toronto at the 1995 Negev Dinner Tribute for his support in the continuing work of reclaiming for agriculture a desert area of Israel known as Arava.