In the minds of many people, giving to others is “charity,” a magnanimous act by someone who is well off, to someone poor and needy. But such a view has negative connotations for those doing the giving and to those on the receiving end. But in keeping with his Jewish faith, Ira Riklis believes deeply that performing philanthropic acts is an important part of living a spiritual life. The Hebrew word for this is “tzedakah,” which translates to justice or fairness. In this view, the gifts you give were never truly yours to begin with. Instead they are something that have always belonged to the recipients and which you are simply returning to them.
Highly valued among the varying levels of giving are gifts to unknown recipients via organizations which are trustworthy, wise and can perform acts of tzedakah in a most impeccable fashion. And in this regard, Ira Riklis knows that it is not enough to just give in a random fashion. Instead, he careful reviews the credentials of the organizations to which he gives to ensure the effectiveness of his giving.