There is a popular meme that one often sees on Facebook, that I find deeply offensive. It reads "This is what the World Owes You...", followed by a blank page. Needless to say, care must be taken that no one swindles or takes unfair advantage of the community, but this is as far from a Jewish point of view as anything could possibly be. Man is created in the Image of G-d, which entitles him to dignity and support of his fellow man. In fact, the Hebrew word for charity, tzedakah, actually means "justice". The idea behind this meme dates back to Protestant Reformer and violent anti-semite, John Calvin (1509-1564). Despite the commands to care for the poor, the widow and the fatherless in both Jewish and Christian Scriptures, Calvin's bizarre philosophy was that the poor are damned. He postulated that when Jesus was being crucified, he looked out over all future generations, and chose (elected) who was going to Heaven and who to Hell. A sure sign to know if one is "saved" (going to Heaven) is if one is wealthy or poor. Wealth shows goodness and Salvation, while poverty shows that one is an inherently evil person, and going straight to Hell. Historians credit the rise of Capitalism to these teachings. This is idea known as the Weber thesis. One can clearly see on a map of Europe that the demarcation between the Protestant and Catholic countries, also marks the division between wealthy and poor nations. So Salvation is achieved through money, rather than spiritual wealth. Work hard, get rich, and be saved. Despise those individuals who live in poverty, as they are accursed of G-d.They deserve no pity.This gave birth to the Protestant Work Ethic (which I consider anything but ethical). This idea took root in the New World as well, and is at the heart of many pejorative attitudes toward the poor. The action of helping the poor and weak is called in Talmud "Gemilut Hasadim" (bestowing loving kindness). In modern Israel, Socialists applied the concepts of Gemilut Hasadim to the Marxist idea of class struggle; with the downtrodden masses being the victims of the upper and middle classes. This does not mesh with traditional Jewish ideas. Stealing from the rich is still stealing. This, however, still leaves the wealthy with an obligation to do their fair share for the poor. They applied to Socialist ideology the term "Tikun Olam", found in the prayer book, where it means bringing spiritual progress to the world. It is also used in the Talmud, regarding areas of marriage and divorce, protecting women's rights beyond the letter of the law. From Israeli Socialists, the term spread to non-Orthodox communities in the Diaspora, where it sometimes means positive social action, but sometimes simply means a Leftist agenda. The Orthodox communities prefer the traditional phrase "Gemilut Hasadim", with many organizations, mostly volunteer, caring for the sick, elderly, and otherwise disadvantaged. One would be hard pressed to find a hospital in any major Jewish community without a "Hesed Room", with free kosher food provided for those visiting the sick. In many hospitals, there is even a hospitality room, stocked with food, where relatives of patients many stay over on Shabbat and holidays, when driving is forbidden. I have personally seen these types of services in Catholic hospitals as well, or even in non-denominational hospitals provided by Catholic organizations, but very little in Protestant hospitals. Thank you, John Calvin. What types of activities are covered by "Gemilut Hesed" groups? That will be my next post.
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