I have to clarify a bit.
The original tithing commandment is more than just giving your
money to the religious authority every month.
In fact, the reason why a portion of your wealth is given is
because the priestly tribe (the Levi) did not own any land. So they
count upon other tribes who own land for support. It is like
Catholic priests today who live on an allowance, typically < $1k
a month.
When the Temple was destroyed, the tithing commandment became void.
But this did not stop the Jews from performing acts of charity,
called Tzedakah.
http://www.jewfaq.org/tzedakah.htm
The Meaning of "Tzedakah"
"Tzedakah" is the Hebrew word for the acts that we call "charity"
in English: giving aid, assistance and money to the poor and needy
or to other worthy causes. However, the nature of tzedakah is very
different from the idea of charity. The word "charity" suggests
benevolence and generosity, a magnanimous act by the wealthy and
powerful for the benefit of the poor and needy. The word "tzedakah"
is derived from the Hebrew root Tzade-Dalet-Qof, meaning
righteousness, justice or fairness. In Judaism, giving to
the poor is not viewed as a generous, magnanimous act; it is simply
an act of justice and righteousness, the performance of a duty,
giving the poor their due.
The Obligation of Tzedakah
Giving to the poor is an obligation in Judaism, a duty that
cannot be forsaken even by those who are themselves in
need. Some sages have said that tzedakah is the highest of
all commandments, equal to all of them combined, and that a person
who does not perform tzedakah is equivalent to an idol worshipper.
Tzedakah is one of the three acts that gain us forgiveness from our
sins. The High Holiday liturgy states that G-d has inscribed a
judgment against all who have sinned, but teshuvah (repentance),
tefilah (prayer) and tzedakah can reverse the decree. See Days of
Awe.
According to Jewish law, we are required to give one-tenth
of our income to the poor. This is generally interpreted
as one-tenth of our net income after payment of taxes. Those who
are dependent on public assistance or living on the edge of
subsistence may give less; no person should give so much that he
would become a public burden.
The obligation to perform tzedakah can be fulfilled by giving money
to the poor, to health care institutions, to synagogues or to
educational institutions. It can also be fulfilled by supporting
your children beyond the age when you are legally required to, or
supporting your parents in their old age. The obligation
includes giving to both Jews and gentiles; contrary to popular
belief, Jews do not just "take care of our own."
xShevchenkox .. amazingly your thinking is very close to God's
intention and the Jewish practice!
