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Maimonides Levels of Giving

I would like to thank everyone who has helped me in my efforts to study interfaith conversations in the Middle East this year (God willing). I have always been a supporter of worthy causes and I can't thank those of you who see this trip as a worthy venture. Your giving is greatly appreciated.

I often comment on the Judeo-Islamic connections I find in my studies - often embarassed by what we miss in modern day society. One "common thread" I have recently learned of is the close language connection in the Arabic and Hebrew word for "charity" (Sadika). A famous Jewish philosopher named Maimonides once taught that there are 8 levels of giving. These levels are:

Level 8 RESPONSIBILITY
At the top of the ladder is the gift of self-reliance. To hand someone a gift or a loan, or to enter into a partnership with him, or to find work for him, so that he will never have to beg again.

Level 7 ANONYMITY
To give to someone you don't know, and to do so anonymously.

Level 6 CORRUPTION
To give to someone you know, but who doesn't know from whom he is receiving help.

Level 5 BOUNDARIES
To give to someone you don't know, but allow your name to be known.

Level 4 SHAME
To hand money to the poor before being asked, but risk making the recipient feel shame.

Level 3 SOLICITATION
To hand money to the poor after being asked.

Level 2 PROPORTION
To give less to the poor than is proper, but to do so cheerfully.

Level 1 RELUCTANCE To give begrudgingly.

A wise philosopher, but a simple concept. I sincerely THANK all who have supported my efforts to learn a skill I plan to share with my community. I selfishly pray that G_d provides me the opportunity to give at each of the levels Maimonides speaks of in his teachings - even the lowest levels.


Posted by Malik Moore

Condiment Wisdom

This week, I had a nice talk with a friend of mine. We will call this friend "Frank". Frank is a GOOD DUDE - a simple man. He and I met about two years ago - over food. If you know me, it is no suprise I may have forged a friendship over food. Frank saw me at the Y one day and handed me about 20 ears of freshly picked summer sweet corn to give to a colleague and I joked with him about trusting me with fresh food.

Fast forward a few years and many ears of corn later and Frank and I have shared many stories, voted for opposing presidents, and we have even agreed to disagree at times. A rural hunter with right leaning politics and a city boy that might at times be left of center both like to eat, both like to grow vegetables, and both love family. Our opinions on national healthcare - noooot so much the same :-) but let me get to the "condiment wisdom".

Frank and I recently spoke about the situation in the Middle East and Frank shared a story with me that was a "wow moment" for me. He told me about a neighbor he had growing up. This neighbor had an EXTREME dislike for mayo - yep, the condiment. He shared some of the ways his neighbor would DIS mayo - even describing it's vile crust and nasty discolored residue on the jar. Hearing his story instantly reminded me of a college roommate that had a similar opinion of mayo. My friend's distaste for mayo resulted in my cheesesteak order changing from what was once my normal order at Corfu Pizza - salt, pepper, catsup, and mayo. I began to see mayo the same hateful way my roomate Brian had. I thought nothing of my random change of taste at the time. Frank's neighbor had such a distaste for the condiment and such an influence over his children that 4 children plus their father ALL HATED MAYO.

Now, I may be a vegetarian, but I am no vegan - yet. The "condiment wisdom" I refer to in this flow of consciousness rant has nothing at all to do with mayo and nothing to do with tastes in food. What I saw in Frank's brief story he shared about his neighbor is how easily we learn to love and hate from the people we are close to.

Scientifically-or would it be statistically, the odds of 5 people in one household truly inheriting a distaste for whipped eggs and oil (that's all mayo really is - plus a little lemon juice, salt and pepper) is minimal.

It's clear to see Frank's neighbor's STRONG AND VOCAL opinions had swayed the way his family chose condiments. It's even easy for me to see why I don't like mayo on my cheesesteak anymore (even though I have not ordered a cheesesteak in YEARS).

What is honestly SO HARD for me to understand is how cousins who both love falafel, both love hummus, and stuffed grape leaves - with the same Uncle Abraham and same tan skin can't seem to understand OLIVE OIL in all it's forms - cold pressed, extra virgin, virgin.... olive oil however you
look at it is soooooo good.

THE END

(for those of you that don't get this story - like my dear friend sitting next me now who needs everything explained to her, I am happy to elaborate via this blog)



Posted by Malik Moore