The Jewish outlook., 1908-02-21


In consonance with this spirit of
humanity the Jew under the rabbini-
cal dispensation placed so generous an
Interpretation upon the duty of char
ity that it became necessary to limit
the exercise of benevolence until it
was made unlawful to eXpend more
than one-ffth of ones property in it's
pursuit.
Actual Practice of life.
But charity is tested by the actual
practice of life; the law is a mere in
dication of the spirit which prevails.
One must study the olden Jewish life.
with its pervasive social democracy,
its fine spirit of reverence, its preg
nant symbols and pious observances.
above all its constant discipline of
self-dcnial and tender consideratencss
to appreciate how naturally it all
bloSsomed out into practices of the
kindliest thoughtfulness which re-
ceivcd the character of religious du-
ties. High as were the ideals that
were propounded by prophets like lsa-
iah when he requires that we bring the
pour ont our very soul to the hungry
and satisfy the afflicted SOUL delicate
as was the charity of IA BOaZ who
guarded Ruth in her gleanings from
all humiliation. these ideals became
reality. and the tact of the Individual
became the standard of the masses III
those traditions which governed pop
ular practice. Many were the people
who would never sit down to any meal
which was not shared by some poorer
brother: for the Sabbath mea's cspe-
cially the poor man was the welcome
guest at the table of his more pros
porous brother. until "needy' and
guest" became synonyms. Nor was
it the well-to-do only who deemed 1t
their privilege to exercise this noble
hospitality: but. as the great Rabbi
AKiba had shared his wretched pallet
of straw with those still poorer than
himself. so it was ever the pride of
the poor to do acts of charity even
from the little they had.
In charity it is the heart that H.
lumincs. And thus il is but what we
might expect that many OF our mod
crn problems should have hoen an
ticipatcd and. in Il measure. solved by
the earnest sincerity of those who
looked upon charity as no mere phys
ical relief. who understood 1t rather
10 mean a work of spiritual rcstora-
ton. of soul-building. Two princi-
pIcs. above others. guided the oldcn
Jewish charity: Ia help the tottcring
rather than to wait for their fall and
To avoid that loudncss and ostcnta-
ton in charity which dcgradcs the
giver and shamcs the recipient.
"Greatcr. said the rabbis, is he who
lends than he who bestows aims, y and
according to another saying. "thc
man who gives in secret is greater
than Moses himself.
Nor is there any oldcn Jewish prac-
tcc that can be commended more un-
rcscrvcdly to the emulation of the
present generation than that of Civ
ing i'm secret. not letting. to quote the
beautiful New Testament phrase. thy
left hand know what thy right
doeth' (NIath. vi. 3.
How touchingly beautiful. in those
simple days. were the ingenuities. the
loving little falsehoods that were
practiccd to save the pride OF the poor.
to keep from them the barest suspicion
as to the identity of those who had
penetrated the jealousy guarded Sc
crct of their want and lavishly re
licved it The feast of Esther espe-
ciallv was the season when kini-heart-