Question: I’ve started a program that encourages torah learning during bein hazmanim and offers a raffle for those who learn. I would like to try to expand the program. Can… Read more »
Category: Tzdakah and maaser
Maaser and tefillin for a bar mitzvah boy
Question: Can the cost of purchasing a set of tefillin for my son as he approaches bar mitzvah be paid from ma’aser money? Why or why not? Answer: Essentially we… Read more »
maaser on employee health benefits (USA)
Question: K’vod haRav, in the US it is common for the employer to pay most of the cost of health insurance (e.g. if the insurance costs $24000/year, the employee pays… Read more »
giving masser with a credit card
Question: Is giving masser through a credit card permissible? The company is in essence “lending” you the money and you are in essence “paying” your debt to them with money… Read more »
Masser with credit cards that offer bonuses
Question: Can I give masser through a credit card that offers cash back if a certain amount is spent within a certain amount of time . For example if I… Read more »
Finance
Question: Our people have the best financial knowledge there is. How do you invest $400 a month ? Answer: Specific financial advice is not my specialty, but one thing I… Read more »
Financial Pledge
Question: Dear Rabbi, On entering certain ‘kiruv’ yeshivot one is sometimes asked to sign a pledge to compensate an institution financially in the future for time spent – when payment… Read more »
Maaser money for therapy
Question: Hi I’m dating a guy seriously and a few emotional issues have arisen on my behalf that he is unwilling to get engaged if I don’t get help with… Read more »
About donation amounts
Question: Shalom Rav, Is there a minimum or maximum percentage of one’s earnings one may donate in a year ? Would it be a percentage f the gross earnings or… Read more »
Can extra maasar carry over to the next year?
Question: Last year, through the year I paid for 4 members of my family to have expensive urgent dental work done because they could not afford it. I put these… Read more »
Can a loan count as maaser ?
Question: I have loaned an ex friend money (no contract or witnesses) assuming he would pay me back, a year later and I still havnt received the money back, Can… Read more »
Giving to ones not necessarily poor
Question: I’ve been giving some of my own money but right now I’m feeling a bit stingy and would rather give from my mayser money to those in the train… Read more »
I really don’t remember if I gave maaser on a couple checks, what should I do?
Question: I really don’t remember if I gave maaser on a couple checks I received a couple months ago, what should I do? Answer: It depends on what you said… Read more »
Maaser and receiving 35% back from taxes paid to government
Question: When I give donation and receive a receipt – at the end of the year, the government deducts 35% of the donation – off our taxes. We don’t actually… Read more »
giving away money
Question: I hire a babysitter to watch my children from 1:30 to 4:20 in the afternoon. I come home at 4:20, a few minutes before shkia. I owe the babysitter… Read more »
Maaser for medical research
Question: Hi way one give from his maaser to help donate for medical research? Of course it’s not to a Jewish organization but surely Jewish people will benefit. Answer: One… Read more »
College for Kollel Wife
Question: My spouse and I help out our married daughter by paying for various things that they just don’t have money for, rather than giving them money each month. ex…. Read more »
Status of Pushka Money
Question: If money gets stolen from your pushka do you have to pay it back? What if you let someone that isn’t trustworthy into your house would that be considered… Read more »
Masser to sponsor a tractate
Question: May I use Masser to sponsor a learning of a tractate Talmud of Moed and learner, thanks Answer: You mat defiinitely give maaser money to support the learning of… Read more »
Is it allowed to take percentage off money raised for an organization?
Question: I am arranging a raffle online, which the profits will go to a tzedakka organization. My question is: Am I allowed to take money from the profits? If yes,… Read more »
Borrowing from Tzedaka
Question: Thank you for your wonderful website. If your family collects Tomchei Shabbos from the neighbors, are you allowed to borrow that money? Answer: On one hand the Shulchan Aruch… Read more »
Giving money for a bikur cholim from maaser
Question: Dear Rabbi Gut Mo’ed. Thank you so much for the great Mitzvah of Dinonline Ask The Rabbi, and your kindness and help to all of us and for answering… Read more »
Maaser/Tzedakah
Question: I just recently graduated from college, finally coming off my parents payroll as they like to say. I spent this summer working at an internship and driving for Uber/Lyft,… Read more »
Maaser for a loan that was forgiven
Question: I took out a loan from a bank for a considerable amount of money, which was later negotiated down to about 10%, with the rest forgiven. The loan was… Read more »
Are Bank Fees allowed to be deducted from a salary that was paid late?
Question: I work for a yeshiva that issues payroll checks on a very untimely basis. Although I knew that paychecks may not be issued on the exact date, the yeshiva… Read more »
Ma’aser on Future Income
Question: Is one allowed to give tzedaka for ma’aser on the condition that it apply to future earnings? For example, if someone gets a paycheck on the 30th of the… Read more »
Maaser versus Repaying Student Loan
Question: My wife and I have been scrupulous in paying 10% to maaser for some time, however, this maaser has been at the expense of repaying debt for a student… Read more »
Maaser on a mortgage
Question: Hi, I recently refinanced my mortgage and pulled out some money in the process. Do I have to pay Maaser on that money, or not since it is technically… Read more »
Maaser to ones husband
Question: My husband doesn’t support me financially. This arrangement began right at the start of our marriage. He recently asked me to pay for some of his medical bills. Since… Read more »
Pay myself with maaser for doing work for a Mossad
Question: I am an accountant, and from time to time a certain Jewish org that does charitable work asks me to do some work for them. I feel like I… Read more »
Deducting from Maaser money owed by Yeshiva.
Question: I taught at a Yeshiva for several years and being that the Yeshiva was in bad financial state I am still owed quite a bit of money that was… Read more »
Maaser for hurricane victims
Question: Dear Rabbi There are shuls in Houston Texas that I can support for help because of the flood–I can also send items of food, sundries etc. that they need…. Read more »
Calculating income for maaser
Question: Do I give 10% of income to tzedaka? Is it after Taxes, what about living expenses, baby expenses, etc? What about small side earning (nothing illegal of course) or… Read more »
Mayser when in debt
Question: Hi, If one is in debt owing money to various government agencies as well as the school his children go to (tuition), is he obligated to take mayser from… Read more »
Checks Found
Question: I run an outreach organization. There were others running the organization before we came to town who have since moved on. Going through many old files, we found checks… Read more »
Maaser to a friend in need
Question: Dear Rabbi, I am very strict in giving maaser…to me it’s one of the most important mitzvot. I usually give to different organizations… My friend called me up and… Read more »
Does the tax deduction on a donation add to maaser obligation?
Question: Being that charitable donations are tax deductible, does that add on the maaser-able income, bc now I have earned more money? Answer: It isn’t actual income, because you didn’t… Read more »
Using Maaser for Mitzvah
Question: Can I use maaser money to pay to get my teffilin checked and get new straps? Answer: The general rule is that we may not use maser money for… Read more »
Maaser
Question: If I am fully supported from my parents, do I need to give maaser? There would be some left over but it would make things very tight Answer: My… Read more »
Maaser for students supported by thier parents
Question: What are my obligations for maaser? I am a student and am being supported by my parents. I do have some money left over at the end of the… Read more »
Maaser for hospital donations
Question: Dear Rabbi, My brother is fundraising money to help support Shaare Zedek hospital. Can I use my maser money for a donation to this hospital? Many thanks in advance!… Read more »
Can one use maaser for Yom Tov? Can a wife give a husband her maaser if he is poor?
Question: Can one use their maaser money for Yom Tov expenses? Can ones wife give her husband her maaser money if he is poor? Answer: In general, maaser… Read more »
Mafrish Ma’aser to a separate account?
Question: I know the chofetz chayim says a person should be mafrish ma’aser and not just do a cheshbon on paper. However, is it required to be mafrish ma’aser into… Read more »
Buying an expensinve store of a poor person and taking the difference from maaser
Question: There is a small grocery next to my house that is a tad more expensive than the bigger grocery further down the block. I know the small grocery needs… Read more »
Can a Ba’al Tzedaka use lie detector on collectors
Question: We are friendly with an extremely wealthy person whose 10% reaches out to 10’s of millions per year. Poor people are at his office and home on a daily… Read more »
maaser for mishnayos
Question: Can I use maser to pay for a group to learn mishnayos for my recently deceased uncle? Answer: If the people learning the mishnayos are poor people then the… Read more »
Maaser on school loan
Question: Do we need to give maaser on school loan? What if down the line the loan is forgiven (federal loan)? Thank you Answer: You do not have to give… Read more »
Maaser
Question: If I am fully supported by my parents and have a job, do I need to give maaser money from the money I earn? Answer: You should give ma’aser… Read more »
Am I allowed to take tzedakah
Question: I was always very careful never to borrow money from anyone ever and only spending whatever I could afford, and gave up on a lot of things I felt… Read more »
Tzeddaka to a certain organization, in thought
Question: I read through your article “Think before you Think”, but I would like a clear p’sak what to do in the following situation. I met the director of a… Read more »