If one decides to donate a certain amount of tzedaka to a certain organization in his mind, but does not say so explicitly out loud, is that a vow?
Does it make a difference if the person is a child or a woman – ie: her money technically belongs to her father / husband – and the thought occured without the father/husband knowing?
Answer:
If the decision has been made mentally, but not verbally, one must give the money to charity, but one has the right to change one’s mind concerning which charity to donate to.
Even if the money belongs to somebody else, if you have the right to give it away without asking, the vow will be true. However, if you don’t have the right to give away the money without asking, this will be similar to making a vow with somebody else’s money, and he will be entitled to refuse.
For further details related to this question, pease see the article here, under the section (p. 3) “unspoken charity vows.”
