Charity boxes
These charity boxes are very good for house hold things to charity.
The tradition of the charity box is not quite as old. But its roots are respectable, dating back to Scriptural times. During the period of the First Temple in Jerusalem, we find the prototype charity box: The Temple was falling into a poor state of repair, so the High Priest made a hole in the cover of a box, which he placed conveniently near the entrance before the altar, so that all contributions could be dropped in.
During most of their history, charity boxes were bulky affairs permanently affixed in the synagogue. Many synagogues would have a charity box with separate sections (and chinks in which to place the money) for all communal organizations. Besides upkeep of the synagogue, every Jewish community would have its special groups to collect and disburse funds for hospitality, endowering poor brides, helping the sick, aiding the poor, upkeep of Torah students, interest-free loans and other worthy causes.
Besides giving donations directly to beggars who stretch out their hand (the Torah forbids us to send them away empty-handed), everyone, even the poorest, would regularly place coins in these boxes. Times especially appropriate for this were before prayer (mentioned in the Talmud), at the end of prayer, before doing various commandments, and before the start of Shabbat and Holidays — particularly women before lighting Shabbat and Holiday candles.
Around the end of the 18th century, the custom became prevalent to keep small charity boxes in every home. At that time, a large group of Chassidim had gone to live in the land of Israel, spending their time in Torah-study and prayer in the exalted sanctity of the Holy Land. The Chassidim remaining behind undertook to support them, each family would regularly donate its allotted sum. Outstandingly active in this cause was the renowned Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi (1745-1812), founder of Chabad, who arranged regular collection of the funds through a nation-wide system that was a model of methodical organization.
