Charity in Rabbinic Judaism

Explores the different ideas about how charity can atone for sin and provide rewards in late antique rabbinic literature. Topics include the meaning of the biblical word "tzedaqah," the coexistence of God as the recipient of charity and rabbinic ambivalence about it, redemptive almsgiving, and the reward for charity of retention or increase in wealth. The book analyzes the Babylonian Talmud's tendency to limit the divine element in charity while privileging its human dimensions. A valuable resource for scholars and clergy interested in charity within religion and history.