Question of the Week:
Who was Samuel Joseph Czaczkes?

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What really constitutes atzec akah, anc why Juc aism says it's vital.

You've always wondered ... now you
know.
Here is your chance to learn corn-
pelting and unusual facts about Jew-
ish life throughout the years. Now
You Know introduces you to famous
scholars and infamous gangsters, con-
siders decisions and incidents that
continue to shape the way we live
today, and tells you the story behind
everything from classic Jewish texts to
Hollywood feuds -- all on a page or
iwo. It% history, and it's fun; sit down
and learn a little (best of all, there are
no homework assignments).

Elizabeth Applebaum
AppleTree Editor

ou'll find one in almost
every home, every syn-
agogue, every day
school, every Jewish book-
store and restaurant.
Some are round; some are
rectangular. Each carries the
title of an institution, an orga-
nization or a charity, and has
a small opening at the top
where passersby can place a
handful of coins.
They are called tzedakah

boxes, a reference to the Jew-
ish word not for charity but for
"righteousness." And indeed,
Halachah (Jewish law) tells us
that we are to give and give
and give again. Jews are to
donate a minimum of 10 per-
cent — more if we can afford
it — of our income to
tzedakah, though we should
never give so much that we
ourselves become impover-
ished.
Though virtually everyone
likes to employ the term
"tzedakah" for his cause, in

fact Halachah is very specific
about exactly what this consti-
tutes. "Tzedakah" is reserved
for those unable to care for
themselves: orphans, for
example, or a sick man who
is unable to work and is thus
left destitute.
Other causes may be quite
worthy, from numerous Jewish
educational institutions to art
museums to popular political
issues, but donations made to
these do not fulfill one's oblig-
ation to give tzedakah.
Interestingly, the term

12/29
2000

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