Illustration by Jesse Kuhn
In the 12th century, Jewish philosopher Moses Maimonides set down his degrees of charity. Near the top was one who gives charitably without knowing the recipient and without the recipient knowing the donor. Next was one who knows to whom she gives while the recipient doesn’t know the donor; great sages, Maimonides said, used to walk about in secret putting coins in the doors of the poor. After that came one who doesn’t know to whom he gives, while the recipient knows the donor; sages, Maimonides wrote, also used to put coins in their scarves and roll them over their backs so the poor could pick the coins out and not be ashamed.
Bridget Flood, executive director of the Incarnate Word Foundation, says she thinks Maimonides was on to something, but she can see the advantages when the donor is known. “In a lot of instances, it helps our agencies to be able to say ‘We’ve gotten a grant from the Incarnate Word Foundation’—where they’re trying to build up a track record and attract new donors. So if telling people we’ve given them a gift gives them credibility, I’m all for that.”
Dr. Moisy Shopper, a psychoanalyst, also thinks named giving can be beneficial. He’s considered anonymous giving, he says, as in the case of the $1,000 he gives each year to The Black Rep. But, he says, “I felt that my name as a white Jewish physician might be of help in getting other white Jewish people to support The Black Rep.”
What we perhaps ought to be concerned with, Flood says, is not being charitable so much as being compassionate. “It’s like, I was at St. Vincent’s one night, I was serving meals to the homeless and I’m packing up some food for this guy to take with him, and this other guy comes in late. And before I can respond, the guy I’m packing up the food for says, ‘Give him what you’re packing for me.’ And that’s just humbling: The guy who has nothing is ready to give away his next meal.
“Charity, you know, you’re thinking about yourself when you’re giving the money, you’re thinking ‘I want them to be accountable’ and ‘I have these parameters’ and this and that—but compassion is what that guy at St Vincent’s has. He saw a need and he stepped up to the plate. I always laugh when I get invited to these dinners that are honoring ‘people who are changing our community.’ I think that guy at
St. Vincent’s, he was changing the community, but no one’s going to honor him with the $1,000-a-plate dinner.”
Mark Shook, rabbi emeritus of Congregation Temple Israel, says it’s important to differentiate between charity and philanthropy. Maimonides was talking about charity. “I think if you are aware of a person in need and you have the ability to help that person, yes, Maimonides’ steps apply,” Shook says, “and it is important to help that person.”
Philanthropy, however, “is creating the institution that allows the individual to be cared for; it’s not paying for a kid’s education, it’s helping to build a school. I think the use of anonymity is almost wrong when you’re dealing with philanthropy, because the person who occupies the hospital bed at whatever hospital we’re talking about is usually unaware that he’s in the Steinberg wing, or whatever… But we’d never get the hospital built unless people give enormous sums of money, and to do that, we have to recognize
the people who do that.”
