Question:
Being a loan is said to be greater than charity, can maaser be given to service a loan in place of charity, if someone requires this?
(Logic dictates the money should be given to charity, when repaid, being from maaser.)
Thanks.
Answer:
Thank you for your question.
What you are writing is correct. A person may use money from maaser to lend to a person who needs it, and then afterwards that money will go to tzedakah. As a side point the Chofetz Chaim (Ahavas Chesed beginning of chap. 18) says that a person should separate a third of his maaser money to be used to give people in need free loans, (gemach) until he sees that there is enough money in the gemach, and then 100% should go to tzedakah.
Best wishes
