{
  "id": 15404099,
  "title": "I give to charity — but never to people on the street. Is that wrong?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/i-give-to-charity-but-never-to-people-on-the-street-is-that-wrong",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-18T12:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Vox",
    "slug": "vox",
    "url": "https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/372519/charity-giving-effective-altruism-mutual-aid-homeless"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dear reader, the question posed is whether it is wrong to give money to charity while ignoring people on the street. The author explains that this dilemma stems from a conflict between two core values: helping people and optimizing one's efforts for maximum impact. The author argues that this conflict arises from the belief that there is only one strategy for helping, namely optimization. However, the author contends that there are many ways to help people, each with their own merits and shortcomings. The author draws upon Jewish tradition to illustrate this point. According to the rabbis, helping should not only focus on alleviating poverty but also on preserving the dignity and self-esteem of those in need. This means providing more than just basic necessities, and sometimes even offering some of the comforts of a former lifestyle. The author concludes that while optimization is a useful tool in selecting which charities to support, it should not be the sole guiding principle for charitable giving. Instead, the author suggests that we should recognize the diversity of ways to help people and choose the methods that align with our values and goals.",
  "summary": "Editor’s note, October 18, 8 am ET: We’re bringing you some of our best-loved Your Mileage May Vary columns while Sigal Samuel is on parental leave. The one below was originally published in September 2024. This unconventional advice column offers you a unique framework for thinking through moral dilemmas. It’s based on value pluralism: the […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Giving money to charity conflicts with helping people on the street.",
    "Optimizing efforts for maximum impact creates dilemma.",
    "Jewish tradition emphasizes dignity and self-esteem in helping."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}