The tzedakah-charity tag has no wiki summary.
17
votes
1answer
148 views
What do you do if you made a Tzedaka pledge and now the organization folded?
Recently a friend of mine asked me the following question. He pledged $500- to a Yeshiva, yet before he paid the pledge the Yeshiva closed. Does he still have to pay his pledge to another Tzedaka or ...
12
votes
4answers
131 views
Giving over 20%
I know you are supposed to give between 10 and 20% of your income to צדקה. Does this mean that you are not allowed to give over 20% if you have enough money to do so? If so, why not? (this is more of ...
12
votes
2answers
98 views
Why did Moshe Rabbeinu object to the mirrors, but not the kumaz?
Why did Moshe Rabbeinu balk when the women wanted to donate their mirrors to the construction of the Mishkan (Rashi, Shemot 38:8), but not when the women donated their kumaz (Shemot 35:22), which were ...
11
votes
2answers
274 views
Giving Tzedakah with a Credit Card
If one gives a donation to a charity by using a credit card, the charity will only end up getting a percentage of the actual funds (e.g. 98%). In such a case, does the person giving get "credit" for ...
11
votes
2answers
275 views
What is a “Rabbi Meir Bal Hanes” tzedaka?
I have seen several Tzedaka organizations calling themselves something like "Colel Chabad (or Kupas Ha'Ir) Rabbi Meir Baal Haness Charity".
What does it mean that it is a "Rabbi Meir Baal Haness" ...
11
votes
3answers
197 views
Ma'aser kesafim on capital appreciation
If you own property (e.g. stocks or real estate) that increase in value over the course of the year, are you require to donate 10% of the increase to tzedaka, if you are merely holding on to the ...
10
votes
7answers
286 views
How do you deal with huge numbers of calls from tzedaka organizations?
We get at least 20 calls per day that show up on the caller ID without a name and with either no phone number or a number with a New York metro area code. We usually don't bother answering such calls ...
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
4answers
313 views
“Is the market-based distribution of income fair or unfair?”
This post, by a leading economist, lists the main differences on economic policy between the right and left-leaning economists. On many economic issues, Judaism does not necessarily take a clear ...
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, ...
10
votes
1answer
88 views
Can one take any money offered to him?
Is a tzedaka allowed to take money from people who earn their money in inappropriate way (say, the person worked on Shabbos, stole, cheated, etc.)
If not, is this a chumra or a halacha?
Please ...
9
votes
4answers
141 views
Are there halachos which specify who is qualified for tzedakah?
Following a very interesting and animated discussion at the Shabbos table this past Friday night, I wanted to delve more into the halachos of who is an oni? I understand very clearly from the Neviim ...
8
votes
1answer
143 views
What happened to Rabbi Akiva's money?
The Gemara in Nedarim (50a) lists six sources of wealth from which Rabbi Akiva became exceedingly wealthy, including half of Ben Kalba Savua's money (Kesuvos, 63a). Rashi on Bechoros (58a) maintains ...
8
votes
1answer
165 views
If you use money for kaparos pre-yom kipur, is it fungible or must those bills go directly to tzedaka?
When we do Kaparos, we say "this money shall go to charity" -- so I put that dollar bill in the tzedaka box; is it okay if a few days from now I count what's in my tzedaka box, write a check for the ...
8
votes
2answers
115 views
Obligation of community to support those who study Torah?
Is the community obligated to support financially those who study Torah all day long? Is one allowed to request such support from the community based on his choice to study full-day and not make a ...
8
votes
2answers
85 views
Is it still tzedakah if it is returned?
If a poor person asks for charity and I give some money to that person, but he then returns it to me, (because he doesn't feel it is enough, or any other reason) have I accomplished the mitzvah of ...
7
votes
2answers
376 views
Why do we give tzedakah money to someone to pass along in Israel?
Reuven is planning a trip to Israel. Shimon, knowing this, gives Reuven money for tzedakah with the expectation that Reuven will distribute it when he gets to Israel. Reuven and Shimon both ...
7
votes
2answers
128 views
Giving charity to someone about whom the giver knows nothing?
I often pass by a Jewish store where a person is standing outside asking for tzedaka/charity. Call me cynical but I have no way of knowing A)if the person is really poor, B) if the person is Jewish ...
7
votes
2answers
141 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 ...
7
votes
1answer
156 views
Mikveh fees as Ma'aser
I have recently started a Ma'aser account - a separate bank account that I transfer 10% of any income into and is readily available for giving to Tzedaka and I now use to give instead of coming direct ...
6
votes
1answer
59 views
Is indirect matanot l'evyonim ok?
I was under the impression that the Purim mitzvah of matanot l'evyonim, giving gifts to the poor, had to be done directly -- find two or more poor people and give to them. This answer on a related ...
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
111 views
Supporting new charities
There are myriad charities out there.
If a community has multiple Shuls, schools, Mikvaoth, food pantries, and גמ"חs, and new entities open up fulfilling the same role(s), and the new entities' ...
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
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
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 ...
5
votes
0answers
46 views
Can a synagogue appropriate the contents of charity boxes not removed before a specified time?
There are lots of charity boxes from different organisations put out on a table in the foyer of our synagogue on Purim.
The wardens have attached a note that says that boxes not taken away by the end ...
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
2answers
117 views
Can donating to a Gemach be ribbis?
Suppose that Reuven is strapped for cash. He goes to the local Gemach and gets a hefty $10,000 dollar loan for his daughter's wedding. 3 months later, Reuven manages to acquire the money and repays ...
4
votes
2answers
66 views
Mattanos Levyonim via Jerusalem organazations
Am I yotzeh if I (a non-Jerusalemite) give it to an organization in Jerusalem who gives it out on their Purim since a mitzvas Hayom on my purim?
4
votes
1answer
79 views
What conditions must be met in order for voluntarily forgone income to count as tzedakah?
Suppose one has done work of some value for a charitable organization in exchange for money. This organization would normally qualify as a destination for tzedakah, and perhaps you have also given ...
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
0answers
33 views
Software for organizing a “thing” gemach
I'd like to organize a baby clothes gemach in my area and I was wondering if there was any software that people have used to do this, or if this was a piece of software I'd have to write on my own.
...
4
votes
0answers
47 views
Problem of Ribis in giving loan in order to give Tzedeka
(In order to understand the dinim of Ribis and if this particular case would be problematic I will give a localized example. However please don't close the question or say it's too "local" because the ...
4
votes
0answers
42 views
Collecting Tzedakah from someone who may (or may not) lack da'ath
I just witnessed something I thought I'd never see. Someone soliciting signatures on the street for whoknowswhat gently turned someone away. The reason? "It's for fundraising."
Now I'm sure, like I ...
3
votes
2answers
68 views
3
votes
1answer
123 views
Is one obligated to believe a fellow jew?
I seem to recall that every jew has a chezkat kashrut unless you know something would would remove it, and therefore you are obligated to believe them if they told you something (i.e. they are poor ...
3
votes
1answer
64 views
3
votes
2answers
85 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
61 views
Wives and daughters and the Mitzvos of Purim
Can a married woman rely on her husband for the mitzvos of Purim of Shalach Manos and Mattanos Levyonim (I recall somthing about Ishto Kigufo)?
3
votes
1answer
61 views
Do you get credit for unintentional mitzvot?
I have heard stories such as
A wealthy man felt like abandoning his Judaism and went to the kotel to 'say his goodbyes'. There he saw a chasid davening with such fervor and tears that the wealthy ...
3
votes
1answer
61 views
Does Ma'aser count if you have an ulterior motive?
Leaving aside, for purposes of this question, any issues of monetary benefit associated with giving charity (tax deductions, supporting school fundraisers by purchasing items at a discount, etc.), ...
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
69 views
Tzedakah Commission
Is someone who is collecting Tzedakah (charity) allowed to take a commission for his/herself?
And if so:
Is there a source for the permissibility of such commissions?
Is there a maximum percentage ...
3
votes
1answer
82 views
Is tzedakah money fungible if someone gives to me to give to another?
The discussion in this question seems to indicate that my own tzedakah money is fungible; I can collect coins in a tzedakah box and exchange them for other currency when it's time to make the ...
3
votes
1answer
51 views
Limits on Shikhiha Leket and Peah
Massekhes Peah talks extensively about the amount of crop to be left by the farmer for Leket & Peah as well as what constitutes shikhiha.
Some one just asked me if there was a limit to the ...
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 ...
2
votes
3answers
157 views
Preferred Method of Giving Tzedakah
If one has $100 to give to charity, is it better to give it all to one person, or distribute $1 to 100 people (so that if one isn't legit, the others will cover)?
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?
