The Pushke: A History of the Tzedakah Box

The Little Box That Teaches Everything

In the kitchens and hallways of Jewish homes, on the counters of Jewish businesses, and on the shelves of Hebrew school classrooms, you will find a small box — sometimes tin, sometimes ceramic, sometimes silver, sometimes a recycled jar with a slot cut in the lid. This is the pushke (Yiddish; also spelled pushka), the tzedakah box — a container for collecting coins and bills designated for charity.

The pushke is humble. It is not as grand as a kiddush cup or as dramatic as a chanukiah. But it may be the most important ritual object in a Jewish home, because it teaches the most important lesson: giving is not an occasional impulse but a daily practice.

What Is Tzedakah?

Not Charity — Justice

The word tzedakah comes from the Hebrew root tzedek, meaning “justice” or “righteousness.” Unlike the English word “charity,” which implies generosity at the giver’s discretion, tzedakah is an obligation — something owed to those in need. Jewish law requires every person, even those who themselves receive assistance, to give tzedakah.

The Talmud (Bava Batra 9a) states that tzedakah is “equal to all the other commandments combined.” Maimonides (Rambam) codified detailed laws about how much to give (ideally a tenth of one’s income, or ma’aser), to whom, and in what manner.

Maimonides’ Eight Levels

Maimonides outlined eight levels of tzedakah, from lowest to highest:

1. Giving reluctantly or with resentment
2. Giving less than one should, but cheerfully
3. Giving what one should, but only when asked
4. Giving before being asked
5. Giving when you do not know who will receive, but the recipient knows who gave
6. Giving when you know who will receive, but the recipient does not know who gave
7. Giving when neither party knows the other’s identity
8. Helping someone become self-sufficient through a gift, loan, partnership, or job — the highest form

The Pushke in Jewish Life

Origins

The pushke tradition is most strongly associated with Eastern European Ashkenazi communities, where small tin collection boxes became a fixture of Jewish homes. The word “pushke” is Yiddish, derived from the Polish puszka (a container or can). Pushkes were distributed by charitable organizations — each one labeled with the name of the cause it supported: a yeshiva, an orphanage, a hospital, a fund for poor brides, or support for Jews in the Land of Israel.

Many homes had multiple pushkes — one for each organization. The boxes were emptied periodically, and the coins were sent to the designated charity.

The Shabbat Custom

One of the most widespread pushke traditions is dropping coins into the tzedakah box just before lighting Shabbat candles on Friday evening. This practice connects the act of giving with the sacred transition into Shabbat. Children are often given coins to contribute, making tzedakah one of their earliest Jewish actions.

The custom serves multiple purposes:

• It associates Shabbat with generosity
• It creates a weekly rhythm of giving
• It teaches children that tzedakah is as natural as candle-lighting
• It ensures that even small amounts accumulate into meaningful contributions over time

Daily Practice

Many traditional Jews place a coin in the pushke every weekday morning before or after prayer. Some do so every time they enter or leave the house. The amounts are small — a few coins — but the consistency is the point. Tzedakah is not reserved for moments of abundance; it is practiced in the everyday.

Types of Pushkes

Traditional Tin Pushkes

The classic pushke is a small tin can with a slot in the top, printed with the name and logo of the sponsoring organization. JNF (Jewish National Fund) blue boxes, with their image of Israel, are among the most iconic. Other organizations — Colel Chabad, Kupat Ha’ir, Tomchei Shabbos — distributed their own pushkes throughout Jewish neighborhoods.

These utilitarian boxes became so ubiquitous that the word “pushke” became synonymous with any tzedakah container.

Artistic Tzedakah Boxes

Contemporary Judaica artists have transformed the tzedakah box into an art form:

• Silver pushkes: Elegant containers with Hebrew inscriptions, floral motifs, or Jerusalem imagery
• Ceramic pushkes: Hand-painted boxes in vibrant colors
• Wood pushkes: Carved or painted, often designed to appeal to children
• Glass pushkes: Transparent containers that show the coins accumulating inside
• Whimsical designs: Pushkes shaped like houses, trees, animals, or Jerusalem buildings

A beautiful pushke makes a meaningful gift for a wedding, housewarming, or bar/bat mitzvah — a way of saying, “May your new home be filled with generosity.”

Teaching Children

The pushke is one of the most effective tools for Jewish education. When a three-year-old drops a coin into the slot every Friday, they learn — before they can articulate it — that Judaism asks them to give. By the time they understand the concept of tzedakah, the habit is already established.

Some families let children choose which organization will receive their accumulated tzedakah money. Others involve children in delivering food to a food bank or visiting elderly community members. The pushke is the starting point for a lifetime of giving.

The Pushke in the Digital Age

While the physical pushke remains beloved, digital giving has expanded the practice. Recurring automatic donations to Jewish charities function as a modern pushke — regular, consistent giving that accumulates over time. Some families maintain both: a physical pushke for the tactile, educational experience (especially for children) and digital donations for larger, systematic giving.

Several apps now offer “digital pushke” features, allowing users to round up purchases or set daily micro-donations. The medium changes; the principle endures.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should I put in the pushke each time? Any amount is meaningful. The Talmud teaches that giving many small amounts is actually preferable to giving one large amount, because each act of giving strengthens the habit of generosity. A few coins at a time, given consistently, is perfectly appropriate.

Can I use the pushke for non-Jewish charities? Yes. While pushkes are traditionally associated with Jewish organizations, the obligation of tzedakah extends to all people in need. Maimonides explicitly states that Jews are obligated to support the non-Jewish poor alongside the Jewish poor. A pushke designated for any legitimate charitable cause fulfills the mitzvah.

What should I do with a pushke that is full? Empty it, count the coins, and donate the amount to the designated charity (or any charity of your choice). Then start filling it again. Some families empty their pushke before each holiday season. Others do so monthly. The key is to ensure the money actually reaches those in need — a full pushke sitting on a shelf indefinitely defeats the purpose.