Judaism recognises that unemployment has a psychological as well as economic dimension. As a matter of religious principle, job creation must be at the centre of any long-term welfare policy. Human dignity requires no less.

I don't need Holocaust memorials to remind me of the loss of Lejzor Trajster and his family, or any of the rest of our families that by chance and the cruelty of nations never made it out of Europe. I need only remember my name.

Before you start emptying your cupboards and fridge directly into a garbage bag, consider the people who search through garbage bags like yours every day in search of scraps to ward off hunger.

From giving tzedakah to making sure I don't spend all my money on myself, my religion has fully shaped my monetary mindset.

As the new year begins, instead of just making a resolution to lose five pounds or to call your mother more often (both fine objectives), make a commitment to think differently. Pledge to look around your community and think about what is needed.

The young soldiers of West Point performed the ultimate act of kindness in Judaism -- chesed shel emet, an act of loving kindness which cannot be repaid by the recipient of the act.

The prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said, "Richness does not come from having an abundance of things from the earth, but richness comes from having a richness of the soul."

Looking at these pieces of art gives me great hope that a new generation of globally conscious designers are celebrating the critical role that tzedakah plays in today's world and that the next generation of Jews will both give and talk about giving.

One of the major mitzvot of Purim is giving gifts to the poor. We must respond to poverty through solidarity, identification, understanding and kindheartedness. But never through shame.

We must make ethical buying choices because it is the right thing to do. But we can't end there. We must raise our voices and tell the corporations that we will not eat or wear the products of exploitation.

We now know how wealthy some of our presidential candidates are -- but what we really need to know to judge each one's character is how they give those funds away.

Restaurants often chase the homeless away, instead of inviting them to the backdoor for a warm meal. Let someone else give them a hand, I have heard said too many times.

Tithing was something I had wanted to do for a long time, but I was afraid -- afraid I would not have enough money to meet my needs, afraid of financial insecurity.

By Tom Jacobs Miller-McCune New research finds Jewish-American families are more likely than those of other faiths to give to charities focusing o...