Gemilut Chasadim, Tzedakah, and Menshlikeit

(4) There shall be no needy among you—since the LORD your God will bless you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you as a hereditary portion—

(7) If, however, there is a needy person among you, one of your kinsmen in any of your settlements in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not harden your heart and shut your hand against your needy kinsman. (8) Rather, you must open your hand and lend him sufficient for whatever he needs.

(10) Give to him readily and have no regrets when you do so, for in return the LORD your God will bless you in all your efforts and in all your undertakings.

(11) For there will never cease to be needy ones in your land, which is why I command you: open your hand to the poor and needy kinsman in your land.

Any city in which there is a Jewish community is obligated to raise up collectors of tzedakah, people who are well-known and trustworthy, to go door-to-door among the people from Sabbath eve to Sabbath eve and to take from each and every one what is appropriate for them to give. [The amount] should be a set and clear matter for each person. They also distribute the money from Sabbath eve to Sabbath eve and give to each and every poor person enough food to last them for seven days. This method is called the kupah [the "coffer" for the charity fund].¹⁶³For laws 1-12, see Babylonian Talmud Bava Batra 8a-11b in addition to the citations listed below. So also [the community] must enlist collectors to take [donations] on a day-to-day basis, from each and every yard, a main dish, other types of food, fruit, or money for anyone who would donate something at that time, and they distribute this collection in the evening among the poor and give to each poor person from it a day's sustenance. This method is called the tamchui [the "charity plate"].

Mishnah Péah 8:7."The communal fund is collected by two and distributed by three people."

The kupah may only be collected by two individuals, for there is no authority to an institution in the community in financial matters except if there are at least two people [to run it], but it is permissible to entrust one person with the money from the kupah. It may only be distributed by three individuals, because it is as if they are making judicial decisions about money [and a Jewish court is comprised of three individuals], for they give to each one enough to fill this lack for the Sabbath [and this is a matter of judgment]. And the tamchui is collected by three, for this is not a clearly defined matter [and also requires judicial decisions], and it is distributed by three.

If someone stays in a province for thirty days, they may coerce him to give tzedakah for the kupah for the citizens of that province. If he stays for three months, they may coerce him to give to the tamchui. If he stays for six months, they may coerce him to give tzedakah for clothing, so they may clothe the poor of that city. If he stays for nine months, they may coerce him to give tzedakah for burial, so they may bury the poor and take care of all of the needs for burial.

Shimon the Righteous was one of the last of the men of the great assembly. He used to say: the world stands upon three things: the Torah (learning Torah in all its form), Avodah (the Temple service or worship), and the G'milut Hasadim (acts of loving kindness /practice of acts of piety.)

The Sages taught that acts of kindness are superior to charity in three respects: Tzedakah can be performed only with one’s money, while acts of kindness can be performed both with his person and with his money. Tzedakah is given to the poor, while acts of kindness are performed both for the poor and for the rich. Tzedakah is given to the living, while acts of kindness are performed both for the living and for the dead.

Rav Yehuda bar Sheila said that Rabbi Asi said that Rabbi Yoḥanan said: There are six matters a person enjoys the profits of in this world, and nevertheless the principal exists for him for the World-to-Come, and they are: Hospitality toward guests, and visiting the sick, and consideration during prayer, and rising early to the study hall, and one who raises his sons to engage in Torah study, and one who judges another favorably, giving him the benefit of the doubt. The Gemara asks: Is that so? And did we not learn in a mishna: These are the matters that a person does them and enjoys their profits in this world, and nevertheless the principal exists for him for the World-to-Come, and they are: Honoring one’s father and mother, and acts of loving kindness, and bringing peace between a person and another, and Torah study is equal to all of them.

A Torah scholar is not permitted to reside in any city that does not have these ten things: A court that has the authority to flog and punish transgressors; and a charity fund (kupah) for which monies are collected by two people and distributed by three, and a synagogue, and a bathhouse, and a public bathroom; a doctor; and a bloodletter; and a scribe [velavlar]; and a ritual slaughterer; and a teacher of young children.