Charity is greater than all.
Who gives charity in secret is greater than Moses.
He finds authority for this saying in the words of Moses, "For I was afraid of the anger," and the words of Solomon which he presents as an answer, "A gift given in secret pacifieth anger."
A miser is as wicked as an idolater.
Charity is more than sacrifices.
"He who gives (charity) becomes rich," or as it is written, "A beneficent soul will be abundantly gratified."
One day a philosopher inquired of Rabbi Akiba, "If your God loves the poor, why does He not support them?"
"God allows the poor to be with us ever," responded Akiba, "that the opportunities for doing good may never fail."
"But," returned the philosopher, "how do you know that this virtue of charity pleases God? If a master punishes his slaves by depriving them of food and clothing, does he feel pleased when others feed and clothe them?"