Tzedakah Boxes

Tzedakah Boxes

Donation Boxes

The word “tzedakah” comes from the Hebrew word “tzedek”, meaning righteousness or justice. This emphasizes the importance of making the world a more just place by giving money to various organizations. In the English Standard translation of Deuteronomy 15:11 it says, “For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’” Jewish tradition teaches that we are indeed our brother’s keeper, and need to care for everyone. The importance of tzedakah continues as a rabbinic concept that emphasizes the obligation of pursuing social and economic justice. Jews must help the oppressed members of society as well as those in financial straits not because they want to, but because they are required to do so as one way of serving God. The boxes themselves would often be put in the kitchen, on the wall (as with these) or on a countertop, to remind the family to contribute their small change. Donations were often put in just before Shabbat. When full, the box was emptied; often representatives of the various organizations would come around to collect the money. In Yiddish the box is called a “puske,” meaning small box. Tzedakah boxes often were distributed for hospitals, both in Providence and Palestine/Israel. Other boxes might be for schools or charities. Both boxes come from the first quarter of the 20 the century.

Unknown

Donation Boxes

Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association

1900-1925

N/A

Donation boxes

Object

Hebrew