[Avodah] Tzedaka & middot Q

[Micha Berger]

On Mon, Jul 12, 2010 at 07:16:32PM +0000, Elazar M. Teitz wrote:
: T'rumos and ma'asros are _not_ tzedaka. They are the price a grower
: pays for having land on which to grow...

Back in 1998, I noticed an interesting diyuq halashon in the Chinukh
and posted it here (v2n80). It is in agreement with REMT's reisha, but
gives a more specific answer than the seifa. Since it has been a while,
here is an (edited) reprint:

It's interesting to contrast the Chinukh on ma'aser (mitzvah #395)
with his description of terumah (#507).

Terumah is about testifying that "ha'olam kulo liHKBH". This is why,
the Chinukh explains, there is no shi'ur (mid'Oraisa) for terumah. It's
the act of giving that is required.

Ma'aser is about supporting Leviim, so that they have no concerns other
than serving their King. And therefore maaser does have a significant
quantity.

I would also use this to explain why leviim can be mochelim their maaser,
but a kohein can not mocheil terumah. Terumah isn't the kohein's,
he's eating "mishulchan gavoha". Besides, the man has a need to give,
regardless of the kohein's need to receive.

Similarly, we can suggest that terumah is given before ma'aser because it
serves a similar role to b'rachos. Until we acknowledge HKBH's role in
creating the crop, it is not ours to give to Leviim.

: As for actual tzedaka, in Talmudic times it was not "your money and you
: voluntarily give it to beneficiaries whom you consider worthy." It was
: collected by gabbaim from each city resident according to his means,
: and distributed by gabbaim to each poor person according to his needs.
: Of course, many gave to individuals over and above their assessment,
: but the basic system was far from the opposite of socialism.

So where does the Torah stand on the subject of capitalism vs socialism?
Some point in between, or more interested in showing us how to do whichever
economic system we choose biqdushah?

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             "Man wants to achieve greatness overnight,
micha at aishdas.org        and he wants to sleep well that night too."
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