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Giving Exactly a Tenth for Maaser

I have a question for the Rav.

Please, if you are able, to answer my question with quotes/facts from Psak Halacha of any Rabbonim where neccessary.

Allow me to explain a clear story so you would get the idea.
In my community where I live, there are many Tzedaka organizations. Yearly, they send out envelopes with letter appeals asking for charity in honor of Yom Tov.
I like to only respond those who offer a freepost service envelope as I can’t afford to pay each stamp for each envelope.
I am extremely cautious in giving exact ma’aser amounts from any earnings I get from anyone. So when it is time to give ma’aser, I use these freepost envelopes to send them my ma’aser donation.
The question is, since my exact maaser donation will be reduced because they will have to pay for the mail, has my ma’aser payment been fulfilled?

Similary, if giving a cheque of a donation from exact ma’aser payment, they would need to pay a bit of each cheque they put into their bank account. Has my ma’aser payment been fulfilled?

The final question. Since I learned that one should not give more than your share of what you earn, one can at least give a fifth of their earnings – to those who are wealthy. Since I’m not, I follow the tenth procedure. But then here comes the confusion, people give more than what they should give! When meshulachim comes to my door or to shuls, people openly give coins and vouchers. How do they know if they are giving more than required? Is it against the Halacha and Hashem’s commandment?

I hope to hear from you soon
Thanks!!

Answer:

1. When contributing to a tzedakah organization, the contribution is not 100% for the poor people (or other cause) that the organization supports, but rather the contribution is made to the organization in question, which obviously has overheads. The entire contribution, however, is considered a contribution to charity, and can be taken from maaser. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about the cost of the mail, or of other costs that the organization will incur. An added point is that for rabbinic obligations and matters we rule that the concept of bereira applies, so that you can dedicate your contribution to the cause itself.

2. Some authorities write that even somebody who gives more than one tenth to charity should preferably separate one tenth first, and then give the extra money to charity (Chavos Yair 234, based on the Mishnah in Avos 1:16).

The Chafetz Chaim (in his Ahavas Chesed 19:3) emphasizes the special virtue of separating exactly one tenth of one’s income for charity purposes, and recommends that this should be done.

However, it was easier to separate one tenth of one’s income when income was a matter of collecting coins, which can be tangibly separated into different portions. Today, when income is a matter of numbers in a bank account and donations made by credit card transactions, the concept of ‘separating’ is less applicable.

In principle, somebody who gives more than a tenth to charity has certainly fulfilled the obligation/custom of giving maaser, though according to some he will not have the full virtue of the maaser donation.

Best wishes.

 

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