Tzedakah

Tzedakah, from the Hebrew word for “justice,” is the Hebrew word commonly translated as “charity.” But Tzedakah was traditionally assessed by trusted members of the Jewish community, so it is more accurately described as “a just tax directed toward the support of those in need.” Tzedakah was seen as one of the Jewish community’s central obligations, a legacy that has continued to this day, even when tzedakah is more voluntary than obligatory.