tithes, percentages of new crops, animal births, and income, given to paupers or to levites or consumed in Jerusalem. Includes the current practice to "tithe" ones income and donate it to charity.
10
votes
2answers
167 views
Jewish definition of a charity
I know that Jews are supossed to give 10% of their income to charity, but what constitutes a charity? I know that Shuls, jewish schools and poor people in your community count, but what about secular ...
10
votes
2answers
92 views
Is the Mitzvah of Tzedakah fulfilled in a fraud?
If someone gives Tzedakah to a person or fund, without knowing that that person or fund is deceiving them, is the Mitzvah still fulfilled?
And a very practical application: If maaser money was used, ...
7
votes
2answers
135 views
Does kashrut depend on peah, leket, etc?
I understand that if a crop in the Land of Israel does not have the trumot and maaserot properly separated, then the produce is tevel and cannot be eaten (until it is done).
But that made me think of ...
7
votes
2answers
142 views
Maaser Deductibles
Are there any expenses that one is allowed to "deduct" from his income before calculating the amount of Maaser one must give?
For example, if one makes a hundred thousand dollars a year, but his ...
6
votes
1answer
160 views
Meggilas Rus - Leket, Shikcha, and Peah
When Rus went out into the field to pick up the Shikcha (dropped or forgotten crops which must be left for the poor), Boaz sees her great piety and tells his servants to drop more on purpose so that ...
6
votes
2answers
82 views
Does a discount to a poor person count as tzedakah?
If someone performs a service for a poor person and gives a discount in order to help him out, does the difference count as tzedakah? If so, can the full amount be counted towards maaser, or do we say ...
6
votes
2answers
93 views
Does Ma'aser need to be given on gifts?
If I receive a monetary gift, do I need to give ma'aser on it? What about if I receive a gift that is an object (as opposed to money)?
6
votes
1answer
80 views
When is one allowed to eat a fruit from Eretz Yisroel without giving trumah?
When is one allowed to eat a fruit from Eretz Yisroel without giving trumah?
When I was in Israel we picked pomegranates directly off the trees and eat them. I was told this was okay because it had ...
6
votes
0answers
71 views
Modern Maaser and Terumah
Why is it that in modern times, we tithe maaser on non-agricultural income, but not terumah? Does it have anything to do with living outside of the Land of Israel?
5
votes
1answer
100 views
What portion of his income would a Jew following the sacrificial laws give?
Christians are often told that tithing is a practice established in the law of Moses, and may be expected to respect this as a baseline for giving.
But as I read through the Pentateuch, I see quite a ...
5
votes
2answers
101 views
Within what time frame does one have to give maaser on a large sum?
If someone suddenly has a large sum of money from a lottery or inheritance or gift, how much time does one have to disperse maaser money from that?
5
votes
1answer
88 views
Can Yizkor obligations be paid from Maaser money?
When a person goes to Shul to say Yizkor they obligate themselves to give Tzedaka in memory of the deceased. Can this obligation be paid from Maaser or does it have to be paid from the persons ...
5
votes
1answer
169 views
Best way to destroy coins
This year (5772) is the fourth year of the Shemitta cycle, and as such, this Pesach is the time of Biur Maaserot. Does anyone have suggestions (from experience or sources) regarding how to best ...
5
votes
3answers
342 views
Is maaser calculated pre-tax or after-tax?
I have heard different opinions concerning whether taxes can be deducted before calculating maaser. It is logical to me that if you cannot deduct your expense to live in your house, you shouldn't be ...
5
votes
1answer
67 views
Maasar that was set aside, and then stolen
If a person sets aside his Maasar in a seperate account, which was then stolen, or the bank folded and now it is worthless, does he have an obligation to replenish this account, or once set aside he ...
4
votes
6answers
131 views
Tzedakah Websites
If one is looking to give tzedakah without leaving her chair, which reliable Jewish organizations accept donations on their websites?
4
votes
1answer
75 views
Give ma'aser on money that you didn't make yet?
Can I give ma'aser on money that I didn't earn yet but I know I will be earning in the future?
4
votes
2answers
73 views
Must one give maaser from virtual money?
If a person achieves a gain or a payment of a currency that that is purely virtual and does not have any physical counterpart (ie it is not associated with a financial institution) must one give ...
3
votes
2answers
68 views
3
votes
1answer
64 views
3
votes
2answers
47 views
Mishna, Brakhot 2a: When the kohanim enter…where?
Mishna, Brakhot 2a
מאימתי קורין את שמע בערבין משעה שהכהנים נכנסים לאכול בתרומתן
What is the author implying as the direct object of the verb נכנסים? In other words, from the hour that the kohanim ...
3
votes
2answers
87 views
Does a poor person have to give Maaser?
If someone can't finish the month financially, and has to borrow or take gifts in order to feed his family, does he still have to give Maaser from his salary?
3
votes
1answer
31 views
Giving ma'aser to a kohen
When one separates the "first tithe", which needs to be given to a ben Levi, may he give it to a kohen instead on the grounds that he is of Levi lineage?
Would this at least work b'di'avad to relieve ...
3
votes
1answer
78 views
Cancellation of debt, income?
Suppose someone has a $20,000 balance on a credit card or HELOC and settles for $10,000 - the IRS considers it cancellation of debt income and you are required to pay taxes on your $10,000 gain. Would ...
3
votes
2answers
106 views
Is maaser required on gambling money?
Do you have to give maaser on money that was won through gambling?
3
votes
1answer
39 views
Maaser on Selling Previously Purchased Items
Many times people buy things and then later resell them. Assuming no profit was made in this sale, is there an obligation to give Maaser on the newly acquired money?
Practical examples: eBay, college ...
3
votes
0answers
36 views
Why is 1 Elul / 1 Tishrei the New Year for livestock?
The first Mishna in Rosh Hashanah says that 1 Elul is the new year for livestock, i.e. I can only tithe one year's "crop" of livestock at a time, so 1 Elul delineates the herds. (Update: we follow the ...
2
votes
2answers
165 views
Must I take maaser from my income nowadays?
I heard that we don't have to give maaser from our income nowadays because we are outside of Israel and without the Beit Hamikdash. Is this true?
2
votes
2answers
77 views
Jewish king outside Eretz Yisra'el
What would the status of a country dictated by a Jewish monarch be if that country were not [in] Eretz Yisra'el?
Would people need to separate t'rumos and ma'asros there?
(Sorry for the brevity, but ...
2
votes
1answer
51 views
Tithing Precision
What degree of precision is necessary when calculating t'rumos and ma'asros?
The mishnayos deal almost exclusively with collections of discrete objects like loaves of bread and crops, but could that ...
2
votes
0answers
47 views
Why don't we distribute Ma'aser Rishon or Ma'aser 'Ani nowadays?
Produce grown in the Land of Israel has to have Teruma, two of three different kinds of Ma'aser, and Terumat Ma'aser removed, as described in this OU Kosher article. Of these five separations, three - ...
2
votes
0answers
54 views
Maaser on Sal Klita
As a new immigrant to Israel I am receiving a little bit of money ( http://www.jewishagency.org/NR/exeres/A2A4F6FE-5CB4-469E-A45C-517CF14D59D5 ) to get started here.
Should I pay maaser on this ...
2
votes
0answers
33 views
May one use Ma'aser (tithe) for non-Jewish charities? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Jewish definition of a charity
May one use one's Ma'aser (tithe) money to donate to non-Jewish charities, or is the requirement for Ma'aser only fulfilled if the ...
0
votes
1answer
55 views
Malachi on tithing
What is Malachi (or G-d through Malachi's mouth, or whatever) supposed to mean about tithing? Why did we have to pay full price to priests that offered impure sacrifices? Or am I missing the point?
