Tzedakah (צדקה) in Judaism, is the Hebrew term most commonly translated as "charity", though it is based on a root meaning "justice" (צדק).

According to Maimonides, there are eight levels of tzedakah in Jewish tradition, ranging from publicly giving funds, so that the donor and recipient both know who each other is, to providing the means by which a needy person can become self-sustaining.

Maimonides defined the following eight levels of charity:

1. Giving a poor person work (or loaning him money to start a business) so he will not have to depend on charity.
2. Giving charity anonymously to an unknown recipient.
3. Giving it anonymously to a known recipient.
4. Giving it to an unknown recipient.
5. Giving it before being asked.
6. Giving adequately after being asked.
7. Giving willingly, but inadequately.
8. Giving unwillingly.

Jewish life topics
Birth: Brit milah | Zeved habat (Simchat Bat) | Hebrew name | Redemption of First-born
Teenage: B'nai Mitzvah
Adult: Ablution in Judaism | Prayers and blessings
Marriage: Matchmaking | Jewish view of marriage | Role of women in Judaism | Niddah | Mikvah | Tzeniut
Judaism: Religious life | Observing the commandments | Torah study (Weekly Torah portion) | Talmud study (Daf Yomi) | Jewish holidays
Cultural: Aliyah | Connection with Israel | Charity
Items of religious significance: Tzitzit | Tallit | Tefillin | Yarmulke-Kippa | Menorah
Death: Chevra kadisha | Shiv'ah | Kaddish | Yahrzeit	edit (http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Template:JewishLifeCycle)