By Norris Burkes, Dec 28. 2025
Do you consider yourself a charitable person? If so, what motivates you to give?
This is a question that Rabbi Moses Maimonides from the 13th century gave thought we should all consider. So, he made a list called “Eight Degrees of Charity,” that rated our motivation for giving.
Maimonides described his list as a ladder, so let’s examine his list, beginning at bottom rung, the lowest motive for making charitable gifts.
- Sometimes we give only because we are uncomfortable with our wealth.
This sentiment is aptly described by Tibetan Buddhist Trungpa Rinpoche as “Idiot compassion.” You can see it in the actions of retirees like me who increased giving during the pandemic by giving to the local foodbank.
I think Maimonides would say that most charity is good charity. Still, it’s hard to sort our good motives from our lesser ones. That’s why the rabbi encouraged us to work our way up the ladder.
- We give cheerfully but not too much.
We do this by dropping a few bucks in the Salvation Army kettle or the church offering. We smile generously, but we know it’s woefully inadequate.
- We only donate when asked.
The San Francisco company GoFundMe began with the premise of giving to those who ask. The tragic drama in many requests inspires us to give. In 2021 they generated $55 million in 2024.
- We give without being asked.
This sounds like a clean motive but it’s lower rung because the giver may do it to gain attention. On one hand, it’s the kind of giving we might do when we say we will pick up the dinner check. On the positive side, it’s the kind of giving we do when a neighbor needs our assistance.
- We give to those whom we don’t know, but we want them to know who we are.
A lot of us achieve this when we give to the homeless woman at the intersection. It’s a kind act, but it’s hard to avoid making the recipient feel less-than.
- We give anonymously but we need to know who’s getting it.
This may seem like a high form of giving, but not quite. Maimonides cautions that since “subconsciously, the giver might gain a pleasure and a sense of power over the recipient, this detracts from his act.”
- We give anonymously and don’t want anyone to know
This one is tricky, but the best modern-day example is the Salvation Army Kettle. Your donation helps the poor, but you will never know who they are, and they will never know who you are. You have no say in where the money goes and cannot take it back.
And the highest degree of charity motive on Maimonides list is…
1.We form a business partnership with the poor.
“What?” you ask. “Business is not charity!”
The rabbi considered this the highest charitable form because it “strengthens the hand of the poor through either a gift or an interest-free loan.” Surprisingly, Maimonides considered the loan better than an outright gift “since the poor are not shamed.”
This charity is best illustrated in the saying, “Give a person a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him to fish and he eats for a lifetime.”
It’s this approach to charity that has inspired me to proudly promote Chispa Project in this column for the past ten years.
My daughter Sara Brakhane founded Chispa Project to establish libraries in Honduran elementary schools. The project is sustained by Hondurans exclusively. Teachers, parents and students and employees organize, plan and monitor the libraries.
Each Honduran community raises a symbolic portion of the costs (less than 4% of the total project). In this way Maimonides highest principle is applied, and the schools establish ownership, pride, and sustainability of the library.
When it comes to our personal motives for giving, none of us can claim a pure heart, so thankfully most charities, like Chispa, help those in need regardless of our giving motive.
Currently, Chispa Project is running their Next Chapter Campaign. Since the Honduran school year runs from February to November, they need support now.
Join us today to be part of the story – we’ll start the next chapter together. If you will start a monthly $10 donation at https://www.chispaproject.org/chaplain or give a onetime donation of $120, I will send you a free book from my list at www.thechaplain.net.
Send checks made to “Chispa Project’ to 10556 Combie Rd Suite 6643 Auburn, CA 95602. Comments received at same address or by email comment@thechaplain.net or at (843) 608-9715.
Maimonides’ full writing is available at https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/maimonides-ladder-of-tzedakah/
