In Judaïsm Tsedaka stands for the religious obligation to redistribute money and to take social responsibilty for the needy.

Although giving is a mitswa itself, Maimonides stated that are eight legitimate levels for filling in the tsedaka-obligation. Here they are presented in a ranking order, from the greatest until the most fundamental level:

• To employ a poor person (or endowing him with a gift or loan to start a business) so he is no longer dependent upon tsedaka or charity.
• to give to the poor anonymously without knowing to whom one gives.
• to give to the poor anonymously knowing to whom one gives
• publicly giving without knowing to whom one gives.
• publicly giving knowing to whom one gives, but before being asked.
• publicly giving enough knowing to whom one gives, after it is asked.
• not giving enough publicly knowing to whom one gives, but with a willing heart.
• publicly but reluctantly giving to a known receiver.