Question:
My father's yurzheit is coming up on a yom tov (and there is competitive bidding) and I reserve money to possibly purchase an aliyah. But someone called me in desperate need of Tzedekah in the amount I would have used for the aliyah, can I give this poor person the money I would have given to purchase that aliyah, and have in mind l'zechur nishmas my father, a'h?
2.
Answer:
It is better to give the money for tzedakah l’illuy nishmas your father. The mitzva of tzedakah is a great zechus for his neshoma. As an added thing, after giving the money to tzedakah, you might want to consider buying hagba’ah, which will be a lot cheaper, and it is also an zechus, (see M:B 147-7).
Best wishes
