Golden Ladder

The Golden Ladder of Charity

There are eight degrees or steps, in the duty of charity.
The first and lowest degree is to give--but with reluctance or regret.
This is he gift of the hand but not of the heart.

The second is to give cheerfully, but not proportionately,
to the distress of the suffering.

The third is to give cheerfully, proportionately, but not until we are solicited.

The fourth is to give cheerfully, proportionately, and even unsolicited;
but to put it in the poor man's hand,
thereby exciting in him the painful emotion of shame.

The fifth is to give charity in such a way that the distressed
may recieve the bounty and know their benefactor,
without their being known to him.
Such was the conduct of some of our ancestors,
who used to tie up money in the hindcorners of their cloaks,
so that the poor might take it unperceived.

The sixth, which rises still higher,
is to know the objects of our bounty,
but remains unknown to them.
Such was the conduct of those of our ancestors who used
to convey their charitable gifts into poor people's dwellings,
taking care that their own persons and names should remain unknown.

The seventh is still more meritorious, namely,
to bestow charity in such a way
that the benefactor may not know the relieved persons,
nor they the name of their benefactor.

Lastly the eighth and most meritorious of all,
is to anticipate charity by preventing poverty;
namely,
to assist the reduced brother either by a considerable gift,
or a loan of money, or by teaching him a trade,
or by putting him in the way of business,
so that he might earn an honest livelihood
and not be forced to the dreadful alternative
of holding up his hand for charity.
This is the highest step and
the summit
of charity's golden ladder.
Moses Maimonides

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