Maimonides (1135?-1204)

[Nicholas]

His Guide for the Perplexed is a classic, rational view of Judaism:

http://www.ccel.org/ccel/maimonides/guide.pdf

[DNS]

Maimonides was good. I studied about him during my childhood years and while I was in Israel (Biblical history and Jewish history were required courses).

[DNS]

Tzedakah (charity)

One of the most widely referred to sections of the Mishneh Torah is the section dealing with tzedakah. In Hilkhot Matanot Aniyim (Laws about Giving to Poor People), Chapter 10:7–14, Maimonides lists his famous Eight Levels of Giving (where the first level is most preferable, and the eighth the least):

1. Giving an interest-free loan to a person in need; forming a partnership with a person in need; giving a grant to a person in need; finding a job for a person in need; so long as that loan, grant, partnership, or job results in the person no longer living by relying upon others.
2. Giving tzedakah anonymously to an unknown recipient via a person (or public fund) which is trustworthy, wise, and can perform acts of tzedakah with your money in a most impeccable fashion.
3. Giving tzedakah anonymously to a known recipient.
4. Giving tzedakah publicly to an unknown recipient.
5. Giving tzedakah before being asked.
6. Giving adequately after being asked.
7. Giving willingly, but inadequately.
8. Giving "in sadness" (giving out of pity): It is thought that Maimonides was referring to giving because of the sad feelings one might have in seeing people in need (as opposed to giving because it is a religious obligation). Other translations say "Giving unwillingly."

[Nicholas]

This translation of that section (verse 7) of the root text seems to prefer, if not require, that charity be aimed first at fellow Jews.

http://www.chabad.org/library/article_c ... ter-10.htm