שולחן ערוך, יורה דעה רמט:א
שיעור נתינתה, אם ידו משגת יתן כפי צורך העניים. ואם אין ידו משגת כל כך, יתן עד חומש נכסיו, מצוה מן המובחר; ואחד מעשרה, מדה בינונית; פחות מכאן, עין רעה.
The amount of giving: If the giver can afford it, he gives according to the poor person's need, and if the giver cannot afford it, he should give up to a fifth of his wealth. This is the greatest way to fulfill this commandment. The average way to fulfill this commandment is to give a tenth of one’s wealth. Less than this is considered an evil eye.
[AJWS translation]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1. What constitutes the poor person's need? How do we determine that?
2. What is a fifth of your wealth? What would it be like to give that amount each year?
3. What is the author of this text trying to do?
Time Period: Medieval (Geonim through the 16th Century)