Question:
I am a working girl living in my parent's house. I take off and pay my masser to tzedakah on my own. I am wondering if I could give my masser money to my parents- I know they could use it. Is it considered tzedakah?
Answer:
Hello,
If your parents are having a hard time making ends meet , and don’t have enough money for their basic needs, you may and should give them your maaser money. In fact, they are from the first people that one should give maaser money to. It is kibud av v’em to provide them with their needs, and because we are obligated to help those who we are closest to before helping others. The Gemora however says that if one can afford to support his parents, then the money should not be coming from maaser, rather from your own money, and give maaser somewhere else. But if this is not the case, you may definitely give your parents your maaser money.
There is one thing that you have to be extra careful about; that your parent should not get embarrassed that their single daughter has to help support them, and that they need “tzedakah” from their children. This is very embarrassing for a parent. Therefore, make sure to sneak them the money, and there are many ways for you to do this, so they won’t find out. For example, you can sneak some money into you parent’s wallet or purse. (Not too much at time, so they won’t get suspicious…) You can pay for part of the grocery bill when you go shopping for them, etc. Whatever it takes, just makes sure they don’t get embarrassed by your giving them the money.
Best wishes
