Tzedakah, derived from the Hebrew word for righteousness and justice, is one of Judaism’s most basic beliefs. It defines the obligation to create a more perfect world and to help those in need.
OJMCHE’s Oral History Collection has a number of wonderful stories about community members helping one another and the community at large. Among the best of these stories is one that takes place in south Portland, the area that housed Jews who began emigrating from Eastern Europe and Russia at the turn of the 20th century. Every Friday afternoon, before the start of the Sabbath, two women would walk the immigrant neighborhood, each carrying a paper sack. One sack contained items for the Sabbath meal – potatoes, challah, cake, meat, etc. – and the other sack was empty. The women knocked on doors and offered up the two sacks. The resident had an opportunity to either take something from the sack because they were in need, or put something in the sack because they had something to give.
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