The boys allocate some of their allowance money towards a “give jar” but in addition, we teach them about giving with regular contributions towards a tzedakah box.
Teaching Tzedakah to Kids
As the resident shiksa in the What Do We Do All Day? household, I am constantly learning about my husband’s Jewish faith. It is very important to me to join in with my children as they learn about and follow the Jewish traditions. Recently the kids and I made tzedakah boxes to put around the apartment.
You may be asking (as I did), what is tzedakah?
According to my understanding (and all others who are better informed than I are welcome to leave comments correcting me!), tzedakah (which literally means “righteousness”) is the act of giving. It is not seen as an act of charity or a feel-good activity, but an act of justice and is an obligation for all Jews. The obligation is also not the same as a tithe to a religious institution. Children can learn about the daily responsibility of tzedakah by dropping change into special boxes. Scattering boxes in several places around the home will act as a continual reminder of the importance of giving to others.
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Kiddo and New Kid each received a tzedakah box kit with their latest PJ Library selection.
They had a good time decorating the boxes. New Kid loved dropping coins in his box.
I covered a cocoa can with brown paper and snatched one of the boys’ stickers as a label. I cut a slit in the top for dropping coins. It’s a good that that having good crafting skills is not an obligation for the faithful! Although you can see in the top photo my can has a halo, so I must be on the right track! It’s my version of the interfaith tzedakah box.
If you want to learn more about teaching children about tzedakah, I recommend the following articles at Kveller, a Jewish parenting site:
Teaching Tzedakah to Kids
Tzedakah for Kids
How do you teach your kids about daily responsibility of giving to others? We always love new ideas so leave a comment and tell us.
maryanne @ mama smiles says
What a great idea! I love that your can has a halo 🙂
Basbusa's Mama says
We just stumbled over a really nice picture book about tzedakah at the library this afternoon. Maybe you guys would enjoy it? It’s called “How Dalia Put a Big Yellow Comforter Inside a Tiny Blue Box.”
Mom and Kiddo says
Thank you so much for the suggestion! I was hoping to find a book about tzedakah!
Emma @ P is for Preschooler says
This is great for all children, whatever religion. Thanks for the idea!
Kaui Eiklor says
FANTASTIC idea, thank you so much for sharing!
Just a little bit of a correction, while Ts’dakah does mean righteousness, this translation is a bit week thanks to the English. Tsedek is a masculine noun meaning “righteousness,” but Ts’dakah is a feminine noun meaning “to do more than is required,” such as to do more than just the minimum for someone who is hurting; to truly love your neighbor as yourself.
The term is also applied to giving beyond the tithe to charities (which you hit right on the head with these awesome giving boxes). Therefore, Ts’dakah would be better translated as “acts of loving kindness.” It is to be done in love, cheerfully, and with no thought of a reward.
Hope that helps! It sure did me, and thanks again for this activity!
Erica @What Do We Do All Day? says
Thank you so much for the clarification. I really appreciate it. I like the idea that it is an “act of loving kindness”, which to me is also a form of righteousness!
Rita Pheiffer says
Giving Tzedakah is a Mitzvah or commandment and we give tzedakah eg. on Shabbos before lighting candles. It is not just about giving money though, it is about identifying someone’s need and attending to that need eg. if a child needed a pair of shoes, take the mom and child to the store and buy the shoes. Someone needs furniture which you have spare and you pass what they are needing on to them. Just as we teach our children about sharing and caring G-d is wanting to teach His children these lessons too. When our hands and hearts are open to give we can count on G-d’s blessings as they are also open to receive.
Erica MomandKiddo says
Thank you so much for chiming in, Rita and helping me expand my knowledge and understanding. I really appreciate it.