Page "Jewish ethics" Paragraph 37

Traditional Jews commonly practice " ma ' aser kesafim ," tithing 10 % of their income to support those in need.

The Rabbis decreed ( against Essene practice, and against advice given in the New Testament ) that one should not give away much, most or all of their possessions.

They did not expect a supernatural savior to come and take care of the poor, and so they held that one must not make oneself poor.

Given that nearly all Jews of their day were poor or middle-class ( even the rich of that time were only rich relative to the poor ), they ruled that one should not give away more than a fifth of his income to charity, while yet being obligated to give away no less than 10 % of his income to charity.