Tzedakah (Tzedaka) refers to the religious obligation to do what is right and just, which Judaism emphasizes as an important part of living a spiritual life.

Tzedakah Means Righteousness. Tzedakah is the Hebrew word for charity, a central tenet of Judaism and a pillar upon which the world stands. The word tzedakah actually means “justice” or “righteousness.” There is an important nuance here.

In the Bible, tzedakah means “righteous behavior” and is often paired with “justice.” In Jewish thought and tradition, material support for those in need is not a matter of “charity”–a term that implies generosity beyond what may be expected–but a requirement.

Tzedakah is not charity given out of caritas, in the Christian understanding of those words; it is given as an act of redress, as part of the process of seeking a just world. How does tzedakah differ from gemilut hasidim (acts of lovingkindness)?

Tzedakah is the Jewish practice of justice, righteousness, and charity. Learn its biblical roots, its connections to Christianity, and how IFCJ supports its values.

Performing deeds of justice is perhaps the most important obligation Judaism imposes on the Jew. " Tzedek, tzedek you shall pursue," the Torah instructs (Deuteronomy 16:20). Hundreds of years later, the Talmud taught: " Tzedaka is equal to all the other commandments combined" (Bava Bathra 9b).

Tzedakah (צְדָקָה)—often translated as charity —is a mainstay of Jewish life. The sages teach that the world was built upon kindness. Tzedakah goes one step beyond. Literally translated as “justice” or “righteousness,” tzedakah tells us that sharing what we have with others isn't something special. It's the honest and just thing to do.

Oct 1, 2024 · Today, tzedakah is often taken to mean charity — the donation of money to synagogues, nonprofit organizations and to the needy. But within Biblical texts and the views of contemporary rabbis, tzedakah is based on deeper, core Jewish values.

Give tzedakah (charity) to the needy, Torah schools, Jewish institutions, and/or humanitarian causes. A family member who is in difficult financial straits takes precedence over non-family. Likewise, local poor and charitable organizations take …

"Tzedakah" is the Hebrew word for the acts that we call "charity" in English: giving aid, assistance and money to the poor and needy or to other worthy causes. However, the nature of tzedakah is very different from the idea of charity.