Why Do We Give?
Because happiness is not an individual matter! If there is suffering and need in our community and our state, we must respond.
Because we want our community, our state, our country, and our world to be a good place to live for everyone - not just for ourselves.
Because our wealth is the result of the labor of our entire society, not just our own.
Because we have more than enough, and generosity is our spiritual practice.
Our Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh writes, "Practicing generosity means continually acting in a way that will help equalize the difference between the wealthy and the impoverished. Whatever we do to ease human suffering and create social justice can be considered practicing generosity."
And from our Jewish heritage, there is much encouragement to give. The great sage Maimonides writes, "Tzedakah (giving) is an identifying mark of a righteous person." And Hillel says, “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I? If not now, when?” (Pirkei Avot, 1:14).
Because we want our community, our state, our country, and our world to be a good place to live for everyone - not just for ourselves.
Because our wealth is the result of the labor of our entire society, not just our own.
Because we have more than enough, and generosity is our spiritual practice.
Our Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh writes, "Practicing generosity means continually acting in a way that will help equalize the difference between the wealthy and the impoverished. Whatever we do to ease human suffering and create social justice can be considered practicing generosity."
And from our Jewish heritage, there is much encouragement to give. The great sage Maimonides writes, "Tzedakah (giving) is an identifying mark of a righteous person." And Hillel says, “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I? If not now, when?” (Pirkei Avot, 1:14).
