Messianic Politics

I truly enjoyed Elliot Ratzman's lecture.He brought out an important philosophical discussion,one already inherent in Judaism.How much should one give,monetarily or physically to tzeddaka?
I agree with Ratzman that Americans in general and Jews in particular need to be re-educated about how the poor are viewed.Our sages' answer to the question," why does poverty exists?" offers a unique perspective.They say that the very existence of the poor or the needy is so they could help us!Their deprivation is meant to evoke in us and teach us about compassion and love of our fellow Jew.
So many of us in America are so concerned about our own material welfare,that we hardly have the time to think about the 'other'.As a result much of our world remains in dire need of being rescued.Ratzmans' choice of how to go about saving the world, based on Levinas' radical ethics,is a step in the right direction.Levinas believes we all have an infinite responsibility to the other.I would like to submit,however, that living a life entirely devoted to the other would render us slaves.Infinitely beholden to the other is endless and possibly destructive.Only few individuals in unique circumstances, have ever been so compelled as to sacrifice themselves to that extent.
For the rest of us ,the answer to the question of how much to give lies in the Torah.The Torah gives a Jew clear guidelines delineating to what extent a Jew is responsible to help others. Ten percent of our earnings but no more than 20% is expected towards a worthy cause.In doing so,our spiritual connection to G-d is reinforced as well as our connection to the other.
Finally I would like to add,while I was listening to the radio yesterday,I heard Apartheid activist Desmond Tutu say about his efforts in South Africa,"we are all instruments for the use in G-d's hands...to help another."Thankfully there are people who commit their lives to the other.As for Jews, our focus should be Israel.Let's not lose sight that this is G-d's world,we can do so much,the Messiah will do the rest.