Learning to Give, Philanthropy education resources that teach giving and civic engagement
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Purpose:
This lesson focuses on eight levels of tzedakah (charity) that were identified by a great Jewish thinker known as Rabbi Moses Maimonides. Students will investigate various ways to give charity and gain an appreciation of how people give of their time, talent or treasure. They will create their own tzedakah box to begin collecting money at home.
Duration:
One - Forty-five Minute Class Period
Objectives:
The learner will:
- identify eight levels of tzedakah (charitable giving).
- role-play scenarios that demonstrate how to give each type of charity.
- create a tzedakah box to take home.
Service Experience:
Students will create tzedakah boxes so that they can collect money for charity.
Materials:
- Student copies of Attachment One: Summary of Laws of Giving
- Poster board: draw a ladder with eight wide rungs on it
- Note cards: enough to make one set of eight laws for every three students plus one set for the teacher (See Attachment Two: Eight Levels of Tzedakah)
- One small container with a lid for each student (such as found in the sandwich bag area of the grocery store); Cut a slit in the lids large enough for coins
- Permanent markers
Instructional Procedure(s):
Anticipatory Set:
Ask each student to describe something that one might give to a poor person. Encourage students to go beyond material objects. Make a list of ideas on the board.
- Ask the students to think of different ways to “deliver” these items to a poor person, such as anonymously, in person, over the phone, through an organization, etc. (This may be very difficult for students. Make a list on the board next to the first list.)
- Tell students that a rabbi named Maimonides (also known as “RaMBa”M) made a list of eight different ways that a person can give charity. He put the ways in order from the most to the least generous way to give. (Keep in mind that all giving is better than not giving.)
- Arrange students into groups of three and give each group a set of eight note cards. Each card has one of the eight levels of charity written on it. Cards should be in the order listed on Attachment Two: Eight Levels of Tzedakah.
- Read through the cards as a class and allow students to ask clarification questions regarding the meaning of the levels.
- Ask the students to manipulate the cards with their group to predict the order of the levels as written by Maimonides. Meanwhile, place your set of cards in the correct order on the ladder. Place them upside down so the students can’t read them yet. Attachment Three: Ladder of the Eight Levels of Tzedakah
- Call up each group one at a time to place their note cards on the ladder, putting the highest form of giving at the top. Have them explain their reasoning as they place them on the ladder.
- When all groups have posted their cards, turn over your cards and distribute copies of Attachment One: Summary of Laws of Giving.
- Talk about the order of Maimonides’s giving levels. Discuss why he might have chosen the priorities as he did. Have the students think of specific giving examples for each level. Role-play examples, if appropriate.
- Explain that they are going to participate in a simple tzedakah project. Each child will make a tzedakah box to take home. Each family may collect money for a charity that offers loans to low-income people to help them become self-sufficient (see Bibliographical References). Discuss of what level of charity this is an example of.
- Give the plastic containers and markers to the students. The assignment is to illustrate the eight different levels of tzedakah on the sides of the box.
Note: Permanent markers stain clothing. Remind students to use the markers carefully. - When the students finish decorating the boxes, have them show their designs to the rest of the class and explain how they represented each level.
Assessment:
Assess students based on how well their symbols and illustrations reflect an understanding of the text. Also assess students based on teacher observations and participation in discussions.
School/Home Connection:
Send home the tzedakah box for each family to use to collect money. Send home a note describing the charity you have selected for the group donation. Set a deadline for bringing in money. Encourage families to find ways for their children to earn money to put in the tzedakah box. Ask students to give periodic updates of their families’ progress.
Cross-Curriculum Extensions:
Make additional tzedakah boxes to place around the school and community. Every week, make rounds to collect the funds. Donate to a fund that helps give loans to poor people, in accordance with the highest level of charity.
Bibliographical References:
For charities that strive to make others self-sufficient:
- Ziv Tzedakah Fund www.ziv.org August 31, 2005 (non-profit organization that distributes funds to various tzedakah projects)
- Israel Free Loan Association http://www.freeloan.org./ August 31, 2005 (gives interest-free loans)
- Jewish Youth Philanthropy Institute http://www.jypi.org/ August 31, 2005 (Website devoted to Jewish youth philanthropy)
- Maimonides’ Mishnah Torah (Website with image map and explanation of the Mishneh Torah)
http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~elsegal/TalmudMap/Maimonides.html August 31, 2005
Lesson Developed By:
Shira HammermanAreyvut
http://www.areyvut.org
Bergenfield, NJ 07621
Handouts:
Handout 1Print Handout 1
Summary of Laws of Giving
This is a summary of a small section of a book named Mishnah Torah. It was written by Maimonides, who was a rabbi that lived in the 12th Century. He wrote many books about Judaism. Mishnah Torah is a book about Jewish law. This summary is based on the section on “Laws of Gifts to the Poor,” chapter 10, verses 7-14.
These are the eight levels of giving to the poor in order from lowest to highest levels.
- A person gives but is not happy when s/he digs into his/her pocket in order to give.
- A person gives cheerfully, but gives less than s/he should.
- A person gives, but only when asked by a poor person.
- A person gives without having to be asked, but gives directly to the poor.The poor person knows who gave the help, and the giver knows who was benefited.
- A person gives a donation in a certain place, but walks away so that the giver does not know who received the benefit. However, the poor person knows the giver.
- A person makes a donation to a poor person secretly. The giver knows who was benefited, but the poor person does not know who the giver was.
- A person contributes anonymously to the tzedakah fund, which is then distributed to the poor.
- The highest level of charity is to give money and help to prevent another person from becoming poor. For example, teaching a person a trade, finding them a job, lending money, teaching them to fish.
Handout 2Print Handout 2
Eight Levels of Tzedkah
Write the following on note cards. Note: These are not in the order listed by Maimonides.
Giving without being asked to give
Giving to a poor person who you do NOT know, BUT who knows who you are
Giving a little, but with a smile on your face
Giving to a poor person who you do NOT know, AND who does NOT know who you are
Giving to a poor person who you DO know, but who does NOT know who you are
Giving a loan or a job to someone so she or he will never need to ask for charity again
Giving unhappily
Giving after a poor person asks you to give
Handout 3Print Handout 3
Ladder of the Eight Levels of Tzedakah
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Unit Contents:
Overview:Opening Our Hearts and Hands to Others (Tzedakah) (Private-Religious) Summary
Lessons:
- 1.
- Giving is Getting (Private-Religious)
- 2.
- Tzedakah Begins at Home (Private-Religious)
- 3.
- A Community of Givers (Private-Religious)
All rights reserved. Permission is granted to freely use this information for nonprofit (noncommercial), educational purposes only. Copyright must be acknowledged on all copies.
