My son needs lots of physical and occupational therapy. It is currently beyond what I can afford and I’m not sure how long I can do it for. Can I… Read more »
Category: Tzdakah and maaser
Donating to non-Jewish Charities
In addition to giving tzedakah, and doing chessed (emotional, chizuk) support for our Jewish brethren, is it praiseworthy, (halachta b’drochov) to give charity and do chessed to non-Jews (assuming that… Read more »
Charity Fraud
Before the wedding of our son we were called by an organization and we agreed to pay for a “seudas ani’im” on the day of the wedding b’zchus the chasan… Read more »
Extra Pay as Charity
Which would take precedence in a small/medium business owner’s tzedakah obligations: Should the business owner increase the wages of his employees at the expense of increased tzedakah, or would industry… Read more »
Paying Debt or Giving Maaser
Rabbis – A close relative of mine lent me a large sum of money to help with living conditions and basic necessities. I receive a salary but it is insufficient… Read more »
Maaser for Maos Chittin (Kimcha de-Pischa)
Question: Can one deduct from one’s maaser in order to fulfill the minhag of Kimcha de-Pischa? Answer: Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Halichos Shlomo, Nissan 2) rules that one can certainly… Read more »
Receiving Charity for a Little Learning
This is a more broader subject however I’d like to focus on 2 points: An older person (with a large family) that is theoretically able to make a parnasah (healthy,… Read more »
Donating Gym to Yeshiva
May goyim donate money to a yeshiva to fix a gym? Answer: Yes, there is no problem in this. However, the donation should preferably be made discreetly. Sources: Although the… Read more »
Gift to Teacher from Maaser
Can one give a gift of money to a son’s teacher in honor of Purim and take it off from maaser? Answer: You should not deduct this contribution from maaser… Read more »
Changing Mind for Charity
If someone intends in his mind to give a certain amount to tzadakah, but later changes his minds and wants to give less for various reasons? Perhaps there are more… Read more »
Paying for Naturalization from Maaser
My father-in-law is currently an undocumented alien in the United States. He has a very small income, but would be able to earn more if he was naturalized as a… Read more »
Maaser from Couple
I was learning in kollel for many years and we couldn’t afford to give maaser kesofim. We had the opportunity to ask R’ Feinstein about the situation who said that… Read more »
Paying for School Transport with Maaser
I heard that supporting your own children over the age of six can possibly be counted as maaser. Does this include paying for transportation for them to go to school… Read more »
Giving Charity Against Will
I think I understand the concept you described based on the gemara in BK about the recipient being unworthy. But is there a similar concept that is true about a… Read more »
Declaration of Meshulachim
Do people who are collecting tzedaka and taking some of it for themselves have to declare how much tzedaka they are taking for themselves to each person they collect from?… Read more »
Maaser for Somebody with Mortgage
According to this halachic ruling: “A debtor who has insufficient means to pay back his debts should not donate more than one third of a shekel (per year) to charity… Read more »
Donating Maaser for Fertility Treatments
May one use maaser money to donate to organizations that help pay for fertility treatments Answer: Yes, this is permitted, both because the people who benefit from the treatments are… Read more »
Maaser While Struggling with Income
If a Jew is struggling with basic necessities and also in debt and in the process of paying off the debts, and an extra sum of money comes in that… Read more »
Giving Charity Money to Sister
If my sister is married and she always has economic problems, but she’s not poor, but sometimes she don’t have money for example for the doctor. What is better to… Read more »
Paying Ambulance Bill from Maaser
We are starting to take maaser. It wasn’t working out before because we were always in the red because our expenses exceeded our income. B”H, that has changed. I wanted… Read more »
Maaser Money for one’s Own Salary
I am beginning to build a practice. I see that there are a lot of people out there that are both in a very difficult financial situation, and who could… Read more »
Receiving Charity Money
My wife recently started to work . With this additional income we are able to make ends meet without assistance from tzedaka. We are unsure for how long this is… Read more »
Tax as Maaser Contribution
If one works and lives in Israel and pays taxes up to 50% of his income (35% income tax and 16% VAT), can the % of paid taxes that corresponds… Read more »
Income to Pay off Debts (Maaser)
Maaser: In a case where money is being earned to pay off a debt, is this money subject to Maaser? For example $100 earned to pay off $1000 debt, or… Read more »
Paying for Aliyah with Maaser Money
if one pledged money to a shul for a kibud and then at a later date earned money, could one give the maaser money for that pledge? Answer: Once the… Read more »
Ma’aser Money for Answering Questions
Hi, I have a ma’aser question. I’m working on setting up a collection for a rav that doesn’t have a shul but still has a community that asks him shailos…. Read more »
Maaser for Startup
Would using funds to invest in a start up business of someone who is struggling financially qualify for Ma’aser Kesafim? Would it make a difference if we have it set… Read more »
Buying Lottery Ticket with Maaser Money
Is it permissible to give maaser money, knowing that you will get something in return? For example, there are some places where, when you give them tzedakah, they give you… Read more »
Paying Mezonot with Ma’aser Money
Would you say that I can put my maaser money towards the Mezonos that I was maskim with my ex about, meaning to say is there a minimum halachic limit,… Read more »
Donation from Non-Jews for Aliyah
What is the halacha regrading taking money from Christians who promote aliyah? More specifically, my wife’s grandmother is currently in the process of making aliyah, but doesn’t seem to be… Read more »
Giving More than a Fifth to Charity
Dear Rabbi, For years, I have always been makpid to separate maaser kesafim and a second maaser – chomesh. I am under the impression from previous rabbonim that I have… Read more »
Changing Coins in Tzedakah Box
I am the gabbai tzedaka and a old penny collector. Someone puts in a old penny worth perhaps 10 cents. I will take it out and put in 10 cents…. Read more »
Giving More than a Fifth to Charity
Dear Rabbi For years, I have always been makpid to separate maaser kesafim and a second maaser – chomesh. I am under the impression from previous rabbonim that I have… Read more »
Giving Maaser from Credit Card Points
Does maaser need to be given on bonus points from signing up for credit cards, or points earned for making purchases? My question in more detail is as follows: If… Read more »
Gift for Orphan from Maaser Money
Is one allowed to use maaser money as a Bar Mitzvah presant for a boy who is orphaned from his father? Answer: This is an interesting question. On the one… Read more »
Giving Charity Collectors
We have many people who come through our neighborhood asking for donations. Some come collecting for different organizations, while many come for their own personal needs. In the past I… Read more »
Charity During Torah Study
Does osek b’mitzvah potur b’mitzvah (one who is occupied with a mitzvah is exempt from other mitzvos) kick in when a charity collector asks for tzedakah from somebody who is… Read more »
Ma’aser for Sport Team
K’vod HaRav, I have a friend who is selling ink cartridges for computer printers. The prices of ink cartridges sold online (via the internet) are lower. I want to patronize… Read more »
Donation for Jewish Institutions
If a non-Jew is looking for a merit for himself or his family, can he give money for a yeshiva or other Jewish charity? Can a Jew advice him about… Read more »
Hilchos Tzedakah, compiled and arranged by Rosh Ha-Kolel Harav Yosef Fleischman
We saw in last week’s halachos that a person should not give all of his maaser money to a single person, at least not on a regular basis. However, according… Read more »
Paying Somebody’s Neder
If a person (Reuven) makes a neder/nedevah to a shul for a certain amount of money (for example when buying an aliyah) and someone else (Shimon) comes along and offers… Read more »
Investing Maaser Money
I have some maaser money that I would like to set aside for a particular cause. The money will not be needed until next year. Can I invest the maaser… Read more »
Parents who Forbid Giving Maaser
If one’s parents give the child money to spend as he wishes, can one use it for tzedakah, even if had they known they would have said that he shouldn’t… Read more »
Obligation of Tzedakah for Poor Person
I’m confused. In this article http://www.dinonline.org/2010/11/11/vayeitzei-the%C2%A0basics%C2%A0of%C2%A0maaser%C2%A0kesafim/ in the section titled “Are The Poor Obligated in Maaser?” it is written “According to this viewpoint, a poor person would not be obligated… Read more »
Maaser for Girls’ Tuition
Can one use his maaser money to pay for his daughter’s tuition? What about the hasa’ot to and from the school? Would it make a difference if some are subsidized… Read more »
Maaser from Paid Bill
Someone paid a bill for me which I could not pay – do I have to give maaser on the amount that was paid. Answer: According to most opinions, because… Read more »
Donations to non-Jewish Charity
Can a person throw away old shoes or clothing or any other utensils (items that cannot be reused by others due to them being not reusable)? We find that Moshe… Read more »
Ma’aser from Fund
I am withdrawing savings from keren hishtalmut. Since I am withdrawing the money before the 7 year period – the money is taxable. Regarding calculating maaser: 1. Does one make… Read more »
Maaser on Savings
I am withdrawing money from a savings fund. Is maaser calculated on the amount before tax or the amount after tax. Answer: Maaser is paid from the amoung after tax,… Read more »
Ma’aser Money for Somebody in Debt
My wife and I are nearly 300,000 in debt including a second mortgage and credit cards. I am currently not working but receive disability. To make ends meet, we have… Read more »