Walter Jacob
Asher ben Yehiel’s family(1250-1327) set a fine example in Toledo where they resided after moving from Germany . They signed a statement through which they accepted their father’s ordinance, which obligated them and their children to provide a tithe of all their profits to the poor and agreed to pay it within eight days of the due date. The example of this leading family and others led to the tithe becoming fairly universal.'’
The most influential code was that of Joseph Caro (14881575) who, along with Moses Isserles (1520-1572), produced a work that remained dominant. Here we also find famhui not limited to gifts of food but to include money(Shulhan Arukh Yoreh Deah 256.1). The Shulhan Arukh placed all the material that dealt with the poor under the heading of tzedakah as had the Tur. Neither felt obligated to deal with the older agricultural system. As in previous works, the community was given the right to compel contributions (Yoreh Deah 248.1). The Shulhan Arukh was clear, provided a few ethical exhortations, and did not include Maimonides ’“Eighth Step.” He followed Jacob ben Asher and did not limit eligibility to 200 zuzim.
COMMUNAL EFFORTS
Poverty grew after the expulsion of Jews from Spain and Portugal and the wars of the next centuries. In the eighteenth century large groups of beggar Jews (Betteljuden) often overwhelmed smaller Jewish communities." They attempted to ease this problem by specifying a route for the groups, for example in Franconia.” Among them were occasional bands of robbers and thieves who worked together with Christian bands.”> The local Jewish populations sought to distance themselves from the beggar Jews as their own right of residency was not too firmly established and tried to hinder their entrance into the ghettoes.