Forming a philosophy for giving in a world teeming with need isn’t easy–and there are no quick fixes in “Rambam’s Ladder: A Meditation on Generosity and Why It Is Necessary to Give” (Workman, $18.95). But author Julie Salamon raises valid questions, and stirs pangs of conscience, as she explores an ancient treatise on giving by a rabbi known as Rambam; because it’s arranged in order, or rungs, of importance, she has dubbed it Rambam’s Ladder.
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At the bottom lie those who give with reluctance; at the top are those who help the needy become self-sufficient. In between are those who give only after being asked and those who give anonymously, among others. For each rung, Salamon points out both the power and pitfalls of such gifts. For instance, she advises would-be givers to “treat giving as they would investing or buying a house” and thoroughly research potential recipients.
Salamon knows charity can’t be forced. But, she insists, it can be instilled in us if we open our eyes to the world around us, from stunning acts of evil to simple gestures of generosity.
On motivation: “Giving should not be an afterthought . . . what individuals do to assuage their guilt for their excesses or indifference.”