Day 5: Where can we show kindness? (Tzedakah)
This is part of our 10-part series, “Hidden in Plain Sight: Why Christians Should Care About the Jewish High Holy Days.”
The concept of Tzedakah, often translated as “charity,” but more accurately understood as righteousness or justice. Giving isn't merely a charitable endeavor, but an ethical obligation. For Christians, this resonates deeply with the New Testament teachings on almsgiving and love for neighbor. Here, the idea of 'faith without works is dead' rings loud and clear.
Jewish Practice Today
In Jewish households, a Tzedakah box is often a common sight. It's a tradition to drop coins regularly into this box, especially before the Sabbath. During the High Holy Days, giving takes on heightened importance. Some Jewish communities organize drives to collect food, clothes, and other necessities for the less fortunate. It's also common for synagogues to allocate funds for community welfare projects during this season. In an era of digital transactions, online Tzedakah platforms have emerged, allowing people to donate to causes dear to their hearts at the click of a button. No matter the medium, the message remains the same: to love is to give.
Prayer for the Jewish People
Let's pray that acts of Tzedakah lead the Jewish community closer to the heart of God and eventually to a revelation that the greatest act of charity was God sending His own Son, Yeshua, as the atonement for us all.
Application for Believers
Understanding the concept of Tzedakah gives us a new perspective on what charity means in the Kingdom of God. Unlike a mere optional act, it's our responsibility to take care of each other, to extend love to those in need. In the New Testament, this idea is echoed in James 2:14-17, where faith without deeds is deemed useless. So, how can we incorporate this practice in our own lives? Start by identifying a need in your community or social circle that you can meet. Remember, it doesn’t have to be a grand gesture; even a cup of cold water given in love carries eternal weight.
“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
Directed Prayer Point
Ask God to reveal to you an opportunity where you can demonstrate Tzedakah in your life. Secondly, pray for the hearts of the Jewish people to be softened and to be receptive to the ultimate act of divine charity—Yeshua, who is the answer to the profound needs of every human heart.
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