The Divine Code Daily Dose

[Hrvatski Noahid]

What is included in making wedding arrangements? It is a great kindness to assist in finding fitting matches for men and women, and the same applies for marrying off one's children, both with assistance in good advice and monetary help (the Divine Code by Rabbi Moshe Weiner, Ask Noah International, 2018, p 695).   

[Hrvatski Noahid]

Kindness and charity can be done on many levels. A person should not mistakenly view the act of giving as only a kindness to others, as the act of giving is more beneficial to the giver than the recipient (the Divine Code by Rabbi Moshe Weiner, Ask Noah International, 2018, p 695). 

[Hrvatski Noahid]

Anyone who has pity on the poor is pitied by G-d. Therefore, a person should meditate that he is constantly requesting from G-d to provide the necessary livelihood, health and all other good things in life, and just as one depends on G-d to listen to his prayers, so must one answer the requests (and prayers) of the poor. One who has mercy on others is given mercy from Above, but one who closes his ears from hearing the cries of the poor should not wonder why G-d is not listening to him (the Divine Code by Rabbi Moshe Weiner, Ask Noah International, 2018, p 696). 

[Hrvatski Noahid]

In this vein, the prophet says, "It has been told to you, O man, what is good, and what the L-rd does require of you: only to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your G-d." "To do justly" refers to correct justice in courts; "to love mercy" refers to charity; and "to walk humbly with your G-d" refers to escorting the deceased and arranging for the expenses of weddings" (the Divine Code by Rabbi Moshe Weiner, Ask Noah International, 2018, p 696). 

[Hrvatski Noahid]

"To walk humbly with your G-d" also teaches that there is nothing finer than modesty, and there is nothing finer in the way of charity than giving to the poor with discretion (the Divine Code by Rabbi Moshe Weiner, Ask Noah International, 2018, p 696). 

[Hrvatski Noahid]

There are eight levels of charity, each greater than the next:

1) The greatest level, above which there is no greater, is to support a fellow person by endowing him with a gift or loan, or entering into a partnership with him, or finding employment for him, in order to strengthen his hand until he need no longer be dependent upon others. In this way the poor person need not feel the embarrassment of having to accept alms. Therefore, such charity, where the poor is accepting the money in a respectable way, is more praiseworthy than were the poor person is embarrassed to receive alms (the Divine Code by Rabbi Moshe Weiner, Ask Noah International, 2018, p 696).   

[Hrvatski Noahid]

2) A lesser level of charity than this is to give to the poor without knowing to whom one gives, and without the recipient knowing from who he received. In this circumstance as well, the poor person need not feel embarrassment at being the recipient of charity from any specific person. Giving to a charity fund is similar to this mode of charity, and is a great deed, as the giver and receiver do not know who each other are (the Divine Code by Rabbi Moshe Weiner, Ask Noah International, 2018, p 696-697). 

[Hrvatski Noahid]

3) A lesser level of charity than this is when one knows to whom one gives, but the recipient does not know his benefactor.

4) A lesser level of charity than this is when one does not know to whom one gives, but the poor person does know his benefactor.

5) A lesser level than this is when one gives to the poor person directly into his hand, but gives before being asked.

6) A lesser level than this is when one gives to the poor person after being asked.

7) A lesser level than this is when one gives inadequately, but gives gladly and with a smile, to encourage and pacify the recipient.

8. A lesser level than this is when one gives unwillingly and unhappily, causing the poor person embarrassment (the Divine Code by Rabbi Moshe Weiner, Ask Noah International, 2018, p 697).

[Hrvatski Noahid]

If one does give, but unhappily and with anger, he loses most of the merit of his giving. One should not allow himself to feel or be openly haughty for the charity he has given, and if one does so, it is fitting that he not only lose his merit for helping the poor, but that he should even be punished (by Heaven for his haughtiness and the embarrassment he has caused to the poor) (the Divine Code by Rabbi Moshe Weiner, Ask Noah International, 2018, p 697).   

[Hrvatski Noahid]

It is permissible for another person to publicize a donor's work, so that others will honor the donor and learn from the donor's good actions (the Divine Code by Rabbi Moshe Weiner, Ask Noah International, 2018, p 697).

[Hrvatski Noahid]

A righteous Gentile should strive to give charity for the sake of Heaven alone, and not in order to merit rewards such as a livelihood or health, and surely not for his own honor (as this may cause him to lose his merit). Nevertheless, if one does give charity and then prays to receive some reward for this, the good deed still stands; however, it is not as great as if one gives with a pure heart.<sup>129

129</sup> See Tractates Rosh HaShanah 4 and Bava Batra 10, "one who gives a selah coin to a poor person so that his son should live, etc" (the Divine Code by Rabbi Moshe Weiner, Ask Noah International, 2018, p 697). 

[Hrvatski Noahid]

Helping one who is not needy is not considered charity. Such a person who takes from charitable funds is a thief and a swindler, as he swindles those who think they are giving true charity when this is not the case, and he is stealing the portions of those who are truly needy who now have less available to them (the Divine Code by Rabbi Moshe Weiner, Ask Noah International, 2018, p 698).   

[Hrvatski Noahid]

Likewise, one should not give charity to one who collects unless it is clear that the collector is honest and is collecting for a just cause, as it is possible that the collector is a swindler and is using the community's money in an unnecessary and wrongful way (the Divine Code by Rabbi Moshe Weiner, Ask Noah International, 2018, p 698). 

[Noachide]

Likewise, one should not give charity to one who collects unless it is clear that the collector is honest and is collecting for a just cause, as it is possible that the collector is a swindler and is using the community's money in an unnecessary and wrongful way (the Divine Code by Rabbi Moshe Weiner, Ask Noah International, 2018, p 698).

It is good to know this. Various people knock on my door.

[Hrvatski Noahid]

It is good to know this. Various people knock on my door.

I have a simple rule: nobody comes in unbidden. 

[Hrvatski Noahid]

This can be seen in the saying of the Sages, "We investigate a request for clothes but not for food," meaning that when a poor person whose identity is unknown says: "I am hungry, provide me with food," we do not investigate whether he is a deceiver (unless he is known to be a deceiver, in which case we do not give him anything). Instead, we provide him with sustenance immediately. However, if he asks for clothes or something less essential, we investigate whether he is a deceiver, and only if it is clear that he is truly in need do we give to him (the Divine Code by Rabbi Moshe Weiner, Ask Noah International, 2018, p 698).   

[Hrvatski Noahid]

The greatest charity is redeeming captives, and this holds the highest priority before any other type of charity. One who neglects to help the plight of captives or is lazy in redeeming them (when he is able to do so) is considered as having blood (i.e., murder) on his hands.<sup>131

131</sup> Rambam, Laws of Gifts to the Poor ch. 8; Shulhan Aruh Yoreh De'ah ch. 252 (Note that there are situations in which ransom is not given, so as not to encourage kidnappers, if the ransom is intended as a type of blackmail upon the society to extract money - see Shulhan Aruh Yoreh De'ah 252:4.) (the Divine Code by Rabbi Moshe Weiner, Ask Noah International, 2018, p 698).

[Hrvatski Noahid]

In all forms of charity, it is proper to prioritize the needy that are closer than those who are farther. One's immediate family members come before the extended family, one's neighbors before the indigent of the rest of the city, and the indigent of one's city before those of the whole country (the Divine Code by Rabbi Moshe Weiner, Ask Noah International, 2018, p 698).

[Hrvatski Noahid]

If a Gentile who observes the Seven Laws desires to give charity through the Jews, it should be accepted from him. This charity money should be given to the Jewish poor, for a righteous Gentile who is in need may likewise receive sustenance from the Jews, and they are commanded to support him if necessary. In contrast, if an idolater desires to give charity through the Jews, it should be accepted from him and given to the Gentile poor.<sup>133

133</sup> Rambam, Laws of Kings ch. 10. Though it says there that the closer the needy person is, the more precedent he has, this does not apply to a collector who is able to distribute as he sees fit, as explained in Shulhan Aruh Yoreh De'ah 251:9 (the Divine Code by Rabbi Moshe Weiner, Ask Noah International, 2018, p 699).

[Hrvatski Noahid]

If a Gentile gives charity through a Gentile charity collector, it is the collector's choice as to which poor people he will distribute the money to, or to which cause he will remit the charity.<sup>134

134</sup> However, charity money should not be given to, or collected for, any causes that are in violation of any precepts within the Noahide Code (the Divine Code by Rabbi Moshe Weiner, Ask Noah International, 2018, p 699).

[Hrvatski Noahid]

If a Gentile gave charity to a synagogue, it may be accepted, provided the Gentile says, "I am donating it according to the intent of the Jewish people" (i.e., that the Gentile donor is not going to be involved in deciding how those funds will be disbursed; generally such a gift is accepted, and should be dispersed in the appropriate manner based on the type of Gentile donor as detailed above in topic 16, and in topic 13 regarding gifts of food for the needy.) (the Divine Code by Rabbi Moshe Weiner, Ask Noah International, 2018, p 699).

[Hrvatski Noahid]

Charity to the poor is greater than a donation to a synagogue in that it atones for one's sins, whereas a donation to a synagogue is considered only as a "burnt offering" to G-d (the Divine Code by Rabbi Moshe Weiner, Ask Noah International, 2018, p 699).

[Noachide]

Charity to the poor is greater than a donation to a synagogue in that it atones for one's sins, whereas a donation to a synagogue is considered only as a "burnt offering" to G-d (the Divine Code by Rabbi Moshe Weiner, Ask Noah International, 2018, p 699).

This is good to know. Never used to think in this way.

[Hrvatski Noahid]

This is good to know. Never used to think in this way.

If I sin, needy people usually ask me for help on the very next day or even the same day.

The Divine Code also says that the merit of those who support Torah outreach is immeasurably great.

[Hrvatski Noahid]

This does not apply to donations that fund any project for construction, repair or upkeep within the walls of Jerusalem, and surely not to the Temple Mount or the Temple itself, as such funding must only come from Jews, as written in Ezra, "It is not for you (Gentiles) together with us (Jews) to build a Temple for our G-d; rather we, by ourselves, will build (it) ...," and in Nehemia, "... but you (the Gentiles) have no portion nor charity nor remembrance in Jerusalem" (the Divine Code by Rabbi Moshe Weiner, Ask Noah International, 2018, p 699-700).