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Bar News - May 7, 2004 Giving: A Way of Life for the Generous Heart A review by Beverly Rorick of Julie Salamon's book Rambam's Ladder, A Meditation on Generosity and Why It Is Necessary to Give MAIMONIDES, THE philosopher and physician known to his followers as Rambam, devoted much of his life and thought to the study of charity. Although Maimonides wrote his treatise on giving nearly a thousand years ago, his insight into human nature and the desire of individuals to rise above their least noble impulses to those most noble, is uniquely pertinent to 21st century life. Julie Salamon's first story in Rambam's Ladder is about Paolo Alavian and how his life changed after the events of 9/11. Before the Towers went down, the Italian immigrant was a grudging giver, suspicious of people who looked for handouts. Alavian had worked hard and owned four restaurants, one of them just a few blocks from the Trade Center. He witnessed the tragedy firsthand and in the days that followed felt compelled to do something beyond the immediate emergency help. He had given free food to the emergency workers, but it didn't seem to be enough. What would become of the spouses left behind-and the children? He decided to give a charity dinner at his best restaurant; he would donate the food, asking that people pay only what they wanted-and he would give all the money to the Red Cross. By the time the dinner was over, 416 people had eaten-and had donated $76,000. Rambam's ladder of charity has as its lowest rung the grudging giver (Reluctance). As one ascends the ladder, he/she climbs to rung two (Proportion), giving less than is proper, but doing so cheerfully. The remaining rungs are: rung three, Solicitation; rung four, Shame; rung five, Boundaries; rung six, Corruption; rung seven, Anonymity; and rung eight, Responsibility. In the book, each rung is discussed and many fascinating stories are included. At the top of the ladder, rung eight, one gives the gift of self-reliance, so that the recipient will thereafter be independent. New York Governor Mario Cuomo notes in his comments on the book jacket: "Giving is essentially a part of loving. As such, it can't be taught, but it can be informed and encouraged.... That's what this delightfully intelligent book does." Rambam's Ladder is published by Workman Publishing, New York.
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