According to Chabad, tzedakah is the uniquely Jewish perspective on charity.

Tzedakah is a mainstay of Jewish life. The sages teach that the world was built upon kindness.  Tzedakah goes one step beyond. Literally translated as “justice” or “righteousness,” tzedakah tells us that sharing what we have with others isn’t something special. It’s the honest and just thing to do.

There are several tenets of tzedakah, including:

• That it is not limited to gifts of money. Sharing time, expertise, or even a kind smile are all forms of charity.

•  Sharing with others. Throwing a coin into a charity box every morning (except for Shabbat and Jewish holidays) sets the tone for the rest of the day.  So be sure to make it a habit.

There are also several “basics” of tzedakah, including:  

• Giving at least 10% of one’s net income to charity.

•  Giving tzedakah to people who are in need and/or institutions that help those less fortunate, such as food pantries, social service agencies for immigrants and refugees, persons with disabilities and so forth.

The right time to give is always the right time to give.  But some of these times are better than others, such as before prayers, before lighting candles and when saying Yizkor (prayer for the dead).

There are two interesting tzedakah quizzes.  One for younger kids and another for teens.

No other mitzvah evokes as powerful a divine response as tzedakah.  Using our hard-earned money for others rather than serving selfish needs is powerful. If you take care of others, G-d takes care of you. Sages teach that tzedakah brings atonement and protects against harsh heavenly decrees.