B. According to Maimonides, the rabbi/doctor of 12th-Century Egypt, there are eight levels of tzedakah:

1. Giving financial stability to someone who’s down and almost out: a loan, or a job, so that he doesn’t need to rely on others.

2. Giving where neither the donor nor the recipient know each other’s identity.

3. Giving where the donor knows who the recipient is, but the recipient doesn’t know who the donor is.

Tzedakah is an attitude of giving. Look for situations where you can give whatever is needed... because often, too often, giving is more than money

5. Giving before the poor guy says, “Please give me!”

6. Giving after the poor guy says, “Please give me!”

7. Giving less than needed... but with a pleasant, all-smiles attitude.

8. Giving begrudgingly or with a scowling attitude.

C. Tzedakah is an attitude of giving. Look for situations where you can give whatever is needed... because often, too often, giving is more than money.

How do I give tzedakah?

1. Well, now, we would start with your checkbook, or with that change in your pocket. See that fundraising letter for that Kids-with-Cancer something-or-other that came in the mail? Send ‘em a check—they could use it. See that guy on the sidewalk begging for handouts? He may not be mentally equipped for society right now, but until he gets some serious help, he needs to eat, just like you—dump a few coins in his cup.

2. More spiritual, very kind and wonderful giving of your resources

Use your cables to give a guy’s dead battery a jump. Use your connections to get a man a job. Listen with a sympathetic ear. Help an old lady across the street. Give directions to a lost tourist, or direction to a lost soul.

3. Very spiritual, ultra-kind, do-what’s-good giving of your self

Loan your friend a few thousand when she really, really needs it (don’t make a point of asking for it back—she won’t forget, believe me). Help a widow put her kids through school. That sort of totally amazing, angelic stuff.