Tzedakka according to the Rambam

According to the Rambam, we give Tzedakka according to the lifestyle a person is accustomed to.

But how far do we have to go to do this?

If a person is really poor and struggling, shouldnt they just accept what they get and lower their standards? At least until they can provide for themself.

Disclaimer: This is being written from a painful place. Please respond kindly. I was raised with all the luxuries and was constantly spoiled by my parents, grandparents, siblings, and aunts and uncles. I am at a rough point now. Going through a scary divorce from an abusive and cheating husband. And I mamash have nothing. I am not expecting to receive from others what I was raised with at all. But I was thinking about this a lot lately.

Platinum Member Joined: Jan 01 2006 Posts: 48223

We've discussed this before. It is tzedekah, but not all consider it a high enough tzedekah to give a person their old lifestyle back, instead of, for example, grocery money for a poor family, etc.

Well sometimes, those poor families that need groceries once had a lifestyle like that. The question is how much do you give?