Question:
I gave my mother points from my credit card for an airline ticket to come visit me.. I could have redeemed those points for money. My mother is a widow who does not have a fixed income (she doesn’t work). She does have money in her account (Probably enough to live for a year). Could I deduct the value of the points off my maaser or does this not count as tzedakah?
Answer:
Since your mother is an almanah and she doesn’t really have any other source of income except for her savings, and she is not in the position to open up a business and make money out of what she has saved. therefore you can use the money that you would have gained toward maaser money.
Sources:
Conversation with R’ Y. Feinhandler, author of Borach Tzedakah.
