TZEDAKAH means justice and solidarity, and represents one of the essential values of Judaism. It is the restitution of the right of our fellow-men to live with dignity.
It is a mitzvah through which merit, happiness and spiritual peace can be reached. From this point of view it is understood that, in helping others, one helps oneself.
The famous Jewish scholar RambBam (Maimónides) explains that, in order to be able to reach the highest level in the love for our fellow-men, there are eight levels to gradually grow in Tzedakah. To establish the levels of importance in Tzedakah, RamBam applied some criteria:

•The degree of the intention with which Tzedakah is given
•The spontaneity
•The degree of anonymity of the giver
•The degree of anonymity of the receiver
•The final function of the help

The eight levels are the following:

1. The highest level in the exercise of Tzedakah is to help someone provide for himself by his own means, before he needs it or becomes poor. This is done through specific help provided in an honourable manner, granting an adequate credit or assistance in finding a job or opening business and, in this way he is not obliged to depend on others.

2. In the second level, the donor does not know the receiver and the receiver, in turn, does not know who the donor is. The clearest case of this form of Tzedakah is when you contribute to a collection fund. Community funds administered by trustworthy persons also fall within this category.

3. In the third level, the donor knows the identity of the receiver, but the receiver does not know the identity of the donor.

4. The fourth level is that of indirect donation. The receiver know the donor, but the donor does not know the identity of the benefitiary.

5. The fifth level is when help is offered and given, although who is in need of it has not asked for assistance.
6. The sixth level is helping someone who is in need only when he asks for help.
7. The seventh level consists in helping willingly, but giving less than what is within the real possibilities.
8. The eighth level, and the lowest – although equally valid – is when Tzedakah is given unwillingly.

Poverty is not an relentless curse. Its expansion or reduction depend on the will of human beings and on the way in which they organize their societies. Through history Jews have considered that insensitiveness to poverty is a very serious infringement. It is not merely a material matter, but one that has extremely deep spiritual implications.