Hebraic Musing – Why do we leave Tips?
Maybe you can help me understand this one? Why do we leave tips? Tipping is most prevalent in America and Psychologists, Sociologists, Economists and Scholars in general have not been able to fully explain why we tip. And googling the topic highlights the fact that Christians are notoriously poor tippers. OUCH! Your thoughts?
Biblically -- "When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the LORD your God." Leviticus 23:22. The practice of gleaning is preached in the bible but the servers in restaurants are not typically ‘poor’ or ‘foreigners’!
Is tipping a form of the Hebrew custom of Tzedakah? "Tzedakah" is the Hebrew word for the acts that we might translate as "charity" in English. The nature of Tzedakah is very different from the idea of charity. The word "charity" suggests benevolence and generosity, a magnanimous act by the wealthy and powerful for the benefit of the poor and needy. The word "tzedakah" is derived from the Hebrew root which means righteousness, justice or fairness. In Judaism, giving to the poor is not viewed as a generous, magnanimous act; it is simply an act of justice and righteousness, the performance of a duty, giving the poor their due.
Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein said this in summary – “Judaism values giving anonymously or giving to people whom you will never meet or know. This way, your gift is exponentially greater in value as you fill someone's stomach, without depleting their pride.” Maybe this explains why my tips in far-a-way places are the same as in my local restaurant!
Points to ponder
So do we give out of generosity
truly?
Or do we tip out of pride, holding ourselves above the other?
Or do we tip out of selfishness, to get better service?
What, if anything, do we get out of it?
What is your explanation? I’m curious. May 16, 2013
Yosef a.k.a. Joe Brusherd
Author of two books “Hebraic Insights” and “Biblical
Marriage”
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