If a ben torah is a relative but watches tv and or uses the internet (kosher purposes), and another person thats a ben torah non-relative that does not watch tv:… Read more »
Category: Tzdakah and maaser
Charity Priorities
According to Iggros Moshe, yoreh deah, 1,144, it appears that all the priorities found in shulchan aruch apply only to the gabbai tzadakah. Can you elaborate futher on this? Does this… Read more »
Donating More than 20% to Charity
Can someone spend more than 20% on ma’aser or tzedakah? Answer: The Gemara writes that a person should not spend more than 20% for charity contribution. According to some authorities… Read more »
Opening the Door to Meshulachim
Late at night meshulochim come to collect for themselves or organizations. Do I have to open the door If I do not know the people? Its for safety issues. Also,… Read more »
Answering Tzedaka Requests
Is one obligated to answer all the tzadakah mailings or phone calls? One does not know if its for real. People don’t know who is mailing the letter or who… Read more »
Prayer with Outstretched Hands/Tzedaka Collection by Two
1) The practice of tefila with outstretched hands was common & even mentioned in tanach. Because the non-Jews have now adopted this practice we discourage this. What is the mekor… Read more »
Deductions from Ma’aser
Regarding Mayser Ksafim, If lets say I make 5000 dollars a month from my job, but I spend 150 dollars a week on baby sitting and spend 80 dollars a… Read more »
Paying Maaser in Advance
If I receive a weekly salary, am I allowed to pay the maaser before i get the money if i know that next week im going to receive a quantity… Read more »
Giving Tzedaka to Shluchim
Hello Rabbis, I need some help to understand tzedakah please. I give willingly but when asked for money by shiliachs I feel angry. Maybe its because I wasnt raised frum… Read more »
Poor Working Man or (Ostensibly) Rich Avreich
If a person works in an optical shop and can give 1 or 2 people a substantial discount. If a kollel person comes in claiming need, however this person wears… Read more »
Use of Maaser
To whom should I give Maaser — to my church/synagogue or to the poor? Somebody mentioned about giving Maaser to somebody who gives you spiritual nourishment. Is this true? Answer:… Read more »
Tzedaka — To Whom
The torah tells us that one should help out the poor and not close our hands to the poor. When does the lav of closing our hands to the poor… Read more »
Maaser from Gifts and Contributions
If someone receives a sum of money from their parents as a gift, is that money subject to maaser? If yes is there a certain time span in which the… Read more »
Maaser from NI Payments
Is one obligated to give maaser from Kitzvat Yeladim monthly child payments received from National Insurance in Israel? In addition, how does this work if one owes them money and… Read more »
Lending Maaser Money
Can I loan someone money with the initial intent that I will deduct it from my maaser if he does not return it? If he returns it I will reallocate… Read more »
Maaser Money for Pesach Hospitality
Question: My sister-in-law and her family are planning to spend Pesach with us. Her husband learns day and night. They have next to nothing and are considered aniyim. Having them… Read more »
Maaser Money for Chumros
Can one use maaser money to fulfill a chumra. For example, if one lives in israel, can one use maaser money to pay the expense of a generator on shabbos… Read more »
Charity from Non-Jews
It says in chapter 254 of the Shulchan aruch that if you really need Tzedaka and what you recieve from “israel” is insufficient,then you may ask from goyim. The Shulchan… Read more »
Taking Maaser from “Maasered Money”
Do I have to give maaser from money that I recieved as a gift from someone who already takes maaser from their money? Answer: Yes. The obligation (or custom) of… Read more »
Computing Income for Maaser
Which expenses may be deducted from net income for maaser purposes: e.g. mortgage, real estate taxes, transportation to work etc.? Thanks Answer: Only those expenses related to one’s work may… Read more »
Stolen Tzeddaka
Question: My wife left her car window open in a parking lot of a shopping centre in Johannesburg. The car was locked. There are car guards who watch over the… Read more »
Maaser – Expenses From Selling Real Estate
Question: Hi, I have sold a home and was wondering what expenses were allowed before calculating ma’aser. Specifically, I wanted to ask about a commission paid to a real estate… Read more »
Tzedaka or Hachnasat Kallah?
Question: I am arranging a chinese auction to raise funds for the following situation: I have a neighbor who is separated from her husband. For reasons not clear to me,… Read more »
Ma’aser From A Wife’s Money
Question: My wife worked for two years before she was married. She gave ma’aser regularly. Now that she is married and I receive the money, do I need to give… Read more »
Ma’aser On Pension Fund Contributions
Question: Does one who has a pension plan need to give ma’aser on the money before it is put in the plan or only when he uses the money? Answer:… Read more »
Ma’aser On the Sale Of A Home
Question: I sold my apartment in Israel and made a profit. However, I needed to buy a house in South Bend with the money and even with all the money… Read more »
Classification Of A Poor Person
Question: One of my students presently has a job but has no savings, and he is uncertain as to whether his job will last more than two months. His brother… Read more »
Collecting Charity In Advance
Question: One of my congregants has a brother in Israel who doesn’t have money to marry off his children. May he collect charity money in advance, to save for a… Read more »
Mixed Up Charity Money
Question: On Erev Yom Kippur, the bima in Shul fell and along with it went all the bowls of tzedoko tumbling to the floor. All the money is now mixed… Read more »
Can I Give This Mezuzah To Tzedakah?
Question: I bought a mezuzah and told a friend that I would not give it away but keep it and use it myself. I then bought another mezuzah and said… Read more »
Promised Wedding Gift
Question: I had a torah vort book which I had decided to give to someone as a wedding gift and even informed him about it. However, it’s been difficult for… Read more »
Stolen Tzedaka Check
Question: If money one collected for an organization was then given over to a shaliach where the money was stolen and one stopped the check (which involved a cost), a)… Read more »
Buying A Lottery Ticket With Ma’aser Money
Question: Are you allowed to give your maaser money to a charity organization where you get something in return, i.e. a free gift or win something in a auction. For… Read more »
Obligation To Stop Giving?
Question: I support needy families around the — area, and started doing that when I was in yeshiva in — and continue to fund those families there. No-one know I… Read more »
When Calculating Income For Ma’aser Purposes, What About Expenses?
Question: I am giving charity now before the end of the financial year (June) and I want to try give 10% of my income to charity. I am trying to… Read more »
Who May Receive Charity Funds?
Question: Hello, I have a question that perhaps you can help me with. I am single and in my early thirties. I am not working. I am on a medication… Read more »
Trading In Currencies – When To Pay Ma’aser
Question: I started with South African rands (ZAR). I used ZAR to purchase US$. Then I coverted the US$ to British pounds (GBP) and later I converted the GBP back… Read more »
May A Fundraiser Keep Back Funds To Pay His Own Salary?
Question: I am employed as a fundraiser by a yeshiva that is behind in paying salaries. Can I use cash that I raised, toward my salary? Keep in mind that… Read more »
Can’t Keep His Promise
Question: A man promised to offer financial support to his son-in-law so that he could study Torah for five years after marriage. Unfortunately the father’s financial situation deteriorated and he… Read more »
Ma’aser Kesafim – Obligation Or Custom?
Question: When my wife and I took on the ol mitzvos, we naturally accepted, as part of that, the practice of maaser kesofim, which we believed was at least a mitzva derabbonon. Recently,… Read more »
Building Funds and Maaser
Question: Can the money I contribute to the building fund by standing order be considered part of my ma’aser? Answer: Technically, the money designated for the building fund cannot be subtracted… Read more »
Maaser & KSY
Question: Can I donate money set aside for ma’aser kesafim to Kehillas Shivtei Yeshurun? Answer: Anyone (whether a member or not) can donate money towards the building of the KSY library… Read more »
Tithing with the Bulls and the Bears
Question: A few halachic questions on investments, specifically with regard to maaser: Is the interest on money (post-maaser) invested in the stock market subject to maaser as well? I believe that it… Read more »
Hidden Tzedokoh
Question: My company has the custom of giving staff members a gift before holidays—usually money. I usually put some extra money in the envelope for my personal assistant, and she… Read more »
Buy Low, Tithe High
Question: 1. If someone buys a house for $200,000, puts down $50,000 in equity, takes out a mortgage for $150,000, and then receives rent on the house for several years,… Read more »
What is Hachnosas Kallah Actually?
A Visitor asked: What is the actual mitzvoh of hachnosas kalloh? I’ve heard many issues discussed on this topic, such as, “If they don’t have money, they shouldn’t have such a… Read more »
Receiving Charity
bs”d, kvod HaRav: I was told by one of the Gedolei Yisroel to leave my husband, as there is an abusive atmosphere for myself and kinderlach at home. I have… Read more »
Money in Cash Machine/Maaser for College Education
To whom it may concern, I have a few questions for the Rav, which I’ll label. Is it possible to indicate which Rav answered my questions?: 1) Is it permissible… Read more »
“Borrowing” from Ma’aser by giving in advance
If we already gave 20% of our income for the year to tzedaka and then someone comes to the door to ask for money can we “borrow” from next year’s… Read more »
Maaser from gifts
Must one take maaser from gifts they receive. i.e. a chosson and kallah who receive tons of gifts and checks, how should they go about taking masser? Also, can one… Read more »