English
The Eight Steps on The Golden Ladder of Charity
Wisdom from Maimonides, a 12th Century Jewish scholar regarding altruism
The Eight Steps on The Golden Ladder of Charity
- Giving reluctantly with the hand and not with the heart.
- Giving cheerfully but not in proportion to the need or the means at one's disposal.
- Giving cheerfully and proportionately, but not until begged to do so.
- Giving cheerfully, proportionately and spontaneously, but directly into the beggars hand, thus creating shame.
- Giving in such a manner that the distressed will know whom it is from, but without the benefactor knowing the beneficiary.
- Giving in a way that the benefactor knows who will benefit from the gift without the beneficiary knowing who the giver is.
- Giving in such a way that neither the benefactor nor the beneficiary know who each other are.
- To prevent poverty by teaching a trade, setting up someone in business,... and in some way providing
means which will prevent the need of charity... and this last is the highest form of "giving".
(from Maimonides, a 12th Century Jewish scholar)
