Wood Duck : Maimonides' Reflected Blessings

On the far side of the river, like part of a painting, is a male Wood Duck. These are dramatic, almost cartoonishly beautiful birds. Just seeing one, just marveling at it, is enough to jumpstart my day. The same way the dawn light flows into my camera lens, the Duck’s natural beauty washes over me. To see this scene is to be made more. This gift I’ve received echoed a reflection on tzedakah on Shabbat.

Maimonides established a hierarchy of tzedakah, with the highest level being to invest in another what he needs to become self-sustaining, and thus able to help others in future. Lower levels of giving, which simply meet immediate needs, are good of course, but their impact is static. The Rambam’s insight, in the 12th century, is that investment creates dynamism and growth in a community, allowing people to realize their Divinely-given potential. Put another way, “pay it forward” is about 800 years older than we thought….

This joy that I receive in the morning is what I need - and more - allowing me to share with others. So is this Wood Duck doing the mitzvah of tzedakah, investing in me to pass along to others? Clearly no. But we can learn that giving tzedakah is not some human construct, an overlay onto life. Rather say, that HaShem has created an abundance of riches, and that the opportunity to do tzedakah is built into the very fabric of the world, a part of the natural order. The blessing we’ve been given - whether the beauty of a Wood Duck or a chaver’s investment - is in fact the opportunity to give to others.