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
The Eight Steps on The Golden Ladder of Charity

The Eight Steps on The Golden Ladder of Charity

  1. Giving reluctantly with the hand and not with the heart.
  2. Giving cheerfully but not in proportion to the need or the means at one's disposal.
  1. Giving cheerfully and proportionately, but not until begged to do so.
  1. Giving cheerfully, proportionately and spontaneously, but directly into the beggars hand, thus creating shame.
  1. Giving in such a manner that the distressed will know whom it is from, but without the benefactor knowing the beneficiary.
  1. Giving in a way that the benefactor knows who will benefit from the gift without the beneficiary knowing who the giver is.
  1. Giving in such a way that neither the benefactor nor the beneficiary know who each other are.
  1. 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)

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