Dear Dani,

Sorry for the failure to replymor quickly. Maybe you will be "charitable" enough to allow me to blame my memory lapse on the Yom Kippur fast. Judy has it right, (Thanks, Judy, for taking up my slack!), as long as you use the SECOND "e" in ever, which is the minimal "schwa" sound, not a fully voiced vowel like the first "e."

Biblically speaking, all of creation is G-d's; we are merely stewards. Thus "the corners of the fields" and "the fallen wheat from the gathered sheaves" (see The Book of Ruth") are RIGHT- fully set aside for the poor -- that is, the nominal owner of the property must plant the whole field, but leave its corners unharvested so that the needy may come and help themselves to what is allocated to them by The Almighty. This is the precedent for seeing what is given to the poor, not as being left to the discretion of the giver, but as the RIGHTFUL property of those in need, and the "mitzvah" (good deed) not as being in the act of giving, but in the act of receiving back one's due graciously, from those who may temporarily hold it. It was a common practice, until fairly recently, for givers to thank the "schnorrers" (beggars with an attitude of entitlement) for allowing them to make the gift!

The Jewish concept of "charity" is therefore rendered by a word that means to do a JUST or righteous act, not an act of pity. Supplying "the portion of the poor" is not an optional kindness, but an OBLIGATION, and failure to fully and properly discharge that obligation puts one in the category of those who would steal from helpless widows and orphans! (E.G. The current U.S.Congress. Couldn't guess my politics, couldja?)

Ya probably shouldn't get me started, Dani. Why were you interested, (should have asked this first, I s'pose.)?

Shalom,

Shula