Selected Reform Responsa 131
QUESTION: What is the historical basis for social services as we now know them?(Dr. S. Busis, Pittsburgh , PA )
ANSWER: If we turn to the Biblical period, we find most emphasis placed upon alleviation of poverty either through outright charity (Deut. 15. 10 fF, etc.), tithing for the benefit of the poor(Deut . 14.28 f), participating in the harvest and the produce of the sabbatical year (Lev. 19.9 f, 23.22, etc.). In addition to this, there was an attempt to bring about economic equality every fifty years through the Jubilee Year when all Hebrew slaves were set free and all land was returned to its original owner(Lev. 25.8 ff). Those legislative statements of the 7orah were constantly reenforced by the message of the prophets. A similar emphasis on charitable acts was continued in the Mishnah and Talmud reflecting the period of the second Temple and the Babylonian exile. Perhaps the grandest statement about charitable acts is to be found in Maimonides ' Yad Hazaqah, which listed eight degrees of philanthropy with emphasis upon helping the poor toward independence(Yad. Hil. Matnat Aniyim 10.7 ff).“The highest degree is attained by those who give him a gift or a loan, or go into partnership with him, or find work for him to strengthen his hands so that he need no longer appeal for help.” A discussion of some other aspects of charity and charitable gifts will be found in the responsa “Priorities for an Adoption Agency” and“Priorities in Charitable Distribution.”
All such charitable directives were addressed to the individual and were more concerned with the physical needs of the poor than with their psychic and emotional needs. As the former matters are now