Scholar Shows How Jewish Philanthropy’s Evolution Influenced Giving Traditions

From Charity to Social Justice: The Emergence of Communal Institutions for the Support of the Poor in Ancient Judaism
by Frank M. Loewenberg

Traditionally, scholars of philanthropy trace the origins of modern giving to free grain distribution in ancient Greece and Rome or to the poor laws of 17th-century England, writes the author of this new book. But the giving practices of ancient Jews may have had a greater influence over the development of philanthropy than scholars previously believed.

“Few people are aware of the enormous range of poor relief institutions and practices that evolved in ancient Judea during the times of the Bible and the Talmud,” writes Frank M. Loewenberg, a professor emeritus at the School of Social Work at Bar Ilan University, in Israel.

Mr. Loewenberg explores the giving traditions of ancient Jews in this history, which spans the period from approximately 1000 B.C. to A.D. 600. He examines giving over the 1,500-year period in an attempt to show how Jewish institutions coped with the problem of poverty and modified and developed their institutions to respond to changes in the “cultural, social, and material environment,” he says.

Understanding the way another society dealt with problems of poverty, welfare, and philanthropy could help modern-day leaders in their efforts to make changes to today’s welfare system, Mr. Loewenberg suggests.

The book explores the influence of ancient Jewish philanthropy on early Christian charities. It shows how Jewish society initially placed responsibility for the poor on individuals–specifically farmers, who were required to give from their fields. As society changed and the number of poor people increased, Mr. Loewenberg writes, ancient Jews removed responsibility from individuals and developed communal institutions to deal with the problems of poverty.

Chapters cover the changing perceptions of poverty among ancient Jews; how inequality and poverty evolved; the challenges to changing rules in a society ruled by religious law; and the emergence of charitable and philanthropic institutions in 13 different areas, such as education and caring for orphans.

Publisher: Transaction Publishers, Department WWW, 390 Campus Drive, Somerset, N.J. 08873; (732) 445-1245 or (888) 999-6778; fax (732) 748-9801; http://www.transactionpub.com; 222 pages; $32.95; I.S.B.N. 0-7658-0052-7.