DEUT745 It is a positive commandment to give charity to the poor in Jewry as Scripture states, You shall surely open your hand, etc. [this verse]; and the Sages of blessed memory interpreted (Sifri, ad loc.): "you shall surely open" -- even many times [when necessary]. And Scripture states further, then you shall uphold him, the stranger and the sojourner [which means one who accepted the seven commandments and imposed on all the descendants of Noah--that we have duty to sustain him] that he may live along with you (Va-yikra 25:35). And it is further stated, that your brother may live along with you (ibid. 36). One has to give according to what is suitable for the needy man and according to what he is lacking. If he has no clothing, he has to be clothed, and so provided with other things that he needs. If the donor's means are not enough, he has to give him as he is able to; and even a poor man who is sustained by charity has a duty to give charity to someone else. A poor man who is related to him takes precedence over everyone else. The poor of one's house takes precedence over the poor of his town; the poor of his town have precedence over the poor of another town--for Scripture says, you shall surely open your hand to your brother, your poor man, and to your needy person in your land (D'varim 15:11). If someone sees a penniless person seeking alms and he hides his eye from him and gives him no charity, he disobeys a positive commandment and violates a negative one [D'varim 15:9). This is a very severe transgression, and he is called a scoundrel, a sinner and a wicked person. We are duty-bound to be more careful about the mitzvah of charity than about all the other positive commandments: for charity is a distinguishing characteristic of the descendants of Abraham. The throne of Jewry is not properly established, nor can the faith of truth endure, except through charity; for Scripture says, Zion shall be redeemed with Judgment, and those of her that return, with charity (Yesha'yahu 1:27). So if anyone is merciless, his lineage has to be suspected; for the cruel lack of mercy is found only among the heathen, as Scripture says (Yirmeyahu 50:42). All members of Jewry are as brothers, however: as Scripture says, You are the children of Hashem your God (D'varim 14:1); and if a person won't have compassion on his own brother, who will take pity on him? To whom should the poor in Jewry lift up their eyes beseeching help -- to the heathen who hate them and persecute them? So their eyes only look to their brethren. Now, it is necessary to give charity with a cheerful face, happily. Nothing bad ever results from charity. No one becomes poor from giving it; as Scripture says, the work of righteousness shall be peace (Yesha'yahu 32:17). It is necessary to calm and cheer a poor man with words, and it is forbidden to rebuke him or raise one's voice to him in shouting, because his heart is broken. And woe to anyone who shames a poor man. If a person coerces (persuades) others to give charity, his reward is greater than the reward of the one who gives. And whoever acts with compassion will be treated with compassion; as Scripture says, He shall show you mercy and have compassion upon you, and shall multiply you (D'varim 13:18). As for redeeming people in captivity, there is no greater religious duty than that. Whoever hides his eye from that transgresses many positive and negative commandments.