Whereas throughout time Jews have placed our families at the center of our lives, beginning with the commandment to honor our fathers and mothers (Deuteronomy 5:15) and continuing with the mitzvot ha’av al ha’ben and the mitzvot ha’ben al ha’av - the obligations of parents to children and children to parents; and
Whereas Judaism teaches us to care for our bodies and keep them healthy in order to “walk in God’s ways” (Mishneh Torah 4:1); and
“And when you sell something to your fellow, or buy from the hand of your fellow, don't oppress each other” (Leviticus 25:14).
Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel teaches, “To us a single act of injustice – cheating in business, exploitation of the poor—is slight; to the prophets, a disaster … to them, it is a catastrophe, a threat to the world.” (The Prophets, p. 4).
The highest level of tzedakah is for a person to assist those in need to become self-sufficient (Maimonides, Mishneh Torah 10:7-14).
