Questions tagged [tzedakah-charity]
The mitzvah of charity, generally giving to the poor, In Hebrew צדקה, literally meaning "justice or righteousness."
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Charity given to poor person who then becomes wealthy
If someone decided to help a poor family out by giving them a substantial amount of money (years worth) and then subsequently the poor gets yerusha or wins the lottery, according to the halacha does ...
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Why don't we say a blessing before giving charity?
Before doing many mitzvos (commandments), we are required derabanan to say a blessing. Why is this not the same for giving tzedakah (charity)?
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What constitutes tzedakah? [duplicate]
What constitutes tzedakah?
The general understanding is that tzedakah is giving money or things to the poor, or help them help themselves with jobs, loans, tuition for training, etc. You must give ...
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What is the mitzvah of tzedakah dependent on?
We learn in the Rambam commentary on Avos (3:19) that it is preferable to give a little bit of tzedakah to many people than a few large amounts to a few people.
When does one fulfil the mitzvah of ...
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What is the purpose of “shlichut” money? [duplicate]
Whenever I have gone to Israel, people have given me "shlichut / mitzvah" money to donate at the Kotel.
Usually, I get to the Kotel, but, I don't always have time to do this, if I'm on a very short ...
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Obligation to ask for tzedakah
At what point is one obligated to ask for tzedakah? If one sleeps in a car are they obligated to ask to sleep in an apartment?
How about food? If one has a minimal subsistence level may one refuse ...
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May one choose the recipient of his/her organ donation?
I have decided to donate a kidney. I know that with organizations like Renewal you can choose to donate to someone specifically. I was wondering if it is mutar to browse potential recipients and see ...
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When did the custom of giving charity in multiples of 18 begin? [duplicate]
People often give charity in multiples of 18.
What is the earliest record of such donations?
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1answer
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How to distribute tzedakah percentage wise?
Are there any detailed recommendations from chachamim how to distribute tzedakah percentage wise (how many percent to pikuach nefesh, Torah insitutions/talmidim, how many to poor people, etc.)? I'm ...
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If giving tzedakah money to parents is a “disrespectful matter” (Talmud, Kiddushin 32a), is giving tzedakah to other relatives a bad idea as well?
My question is going to be a bit complicated so stay with me before you mark it as a duplicate. In my previous question Is giving money to parents considered a tzedaka?, I received answers that it's ...
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Are Jews allowed to contribute to the reconstruction of the Paris cathedral?
I assume most of you have already heard about the sad events that happened yesterday in France. One of the main symbols of Paris, a functioning cathedral caught on fire and caused huge damage to the ...
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Can Mishloach Manot count as Matanot Laevyonim and vice versa?
If I donate ready to eat food to a soup kitchen, or, even more directly, if I see 2 homeless men on the street on Purim and hand them each a sandwich and a drink, can that fulfill my obligation to ...
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1answer
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Elijah and the dying man
I remember reading long ago that the prophet Elijah sometimes will appear to a dying man pretending to be a beggar asking charity, to give the man one last chance of doing an act of tzedakah. Is this ...
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1answer
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Origin of the word “pushka” [closed]
European Jews tend to use the word “pushka” for ‘charity box’. What is the origin of the word?
As far as I can tell, Slavic languages use somewhat similar sounding words for ‘container’. In ...
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Halachic limitations on testing Hashem with Tzedaka
THe Gemmorah (Taanis 9a) discusses the idea of testing Hashem with charity/tithes and brings proof from Tanach (Malachi 3,10) - you give your charity and Hashem maximizes your "earnings":
אשכחיה ר' ...
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Does promising salvation in return to a donation border on fraud?
I have mixed feelings about very common (in Israel) advertisements like this one:
(the ad says: "32 orphans are getting married and YOU ARE GRANTED SALVATION"... each one who donates 320 NIS WILL, ...
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What did Hamechaber mean by “personal property” in Hilchot Tzedaka?
SA Y"D 249:
כמה חייב ליתן [לצדקה] וכיצד יתננה:
שיעור נתינתה ... עד חומש נכסיו מצוה מן המובחר ואחד מעשרה מדה בינונית.
וחומש זה שאמרו שנה ראשונה מהקרן
מכאן ואילך חומש שהרויח בכל שנה:
The ...
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Is it a “mitzvah” to accept tzedakah?
While there is a mitzvah to give tzedakah -- as per the Rambam's list
Not to refrain from maintaining a poor man and giving him what he needs (Deut. 15:7)
To give charity according to one's ...
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Source that one doesn't challenge someone ready to humiliate himself to ask for tzedakah
I seem to remember reading that one doesn't challenge someone ready to humiliate himself to ask for tzedakah, but I can't find the source.
The closest I am getting is the Rambam (MT Matnot Aniyim 7:6)...
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Is there a minhag of giving tzedakah during the torah service?
My weekday morning minyan recently merged into another one, so we're seeing some minor changes in customs. One that is new to me is: at the end of the torah service, as the torah is being carried ...
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Giving Maaser To a Jewish Beggar Who Comes After Davening
After shacharit today, a Jewish person came into shul asking for money to help him provide for his family. He did not have a letter from a Rabbi validating him, as some other after-davening-beggars do....
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1answer
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An avrech without a profession but if he would work, he would earn enough money, is he called an oni regarding tzedaka?
A talmid jojom (Torah scholar) that is poor is one of the highest priorities in tzedaka, over a regular poor person. Is he still considered poor if he could be earning good money, but decides to learn ...
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Debate about what degree of Tzedakah this is
Was having a debate with another Jewish friend of mine (I'm not Jewish, but an interested party) about something I recently did/have been known to do on occasion.
If a person I regularly do business ...
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Segulah for Parnasah
In the new Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz Biography (page 276) they quote Rabbi Zlotowitz once saying that "Giving tzedakah as if you are rich - is the greatest segulah to actually get there".
What was his ...
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Exchanging presents on Rosh Hashana?
Nehemia 8:10 records that the people in Jerusalem were told to, among other things, provide food for Rosh Hashana for those who are lacking:
ויאמר להם לכו אכלו משמנים ושתו ממתקים ושלחו מנות לאין ...
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1answer
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Donations from non-Jews
Are donations to Torah institutions from non-Jews acceptable?
Does it make a difference if they donate money or objects (e.g. a sefer Torah)? Does it make a difference who the donor is and what their ...
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2answers
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Can one give maaser before getting paid?
Suppose I know I'm going to be paid a certain amount, but the check hasn't yet been delivered.
Can I give a Maaser from it before I get the money?
For example to a tzedaka's Chinese auction/raffle ...
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1answer
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Tzedakah and tax deduction
In my country of residence there's a possibility to deduct charities from the tax. Since most have a daytime job and the tax is deducted in advance, in practice it means that at the end of the year ...
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Is giving money to relatives considered a tzedakah?
Can giving money to my parents and relatives be considered as tzedakah?
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Why does one receive reward for saying they will give tzedaka?
The Tosefta in Peah (4:17) states that if a person says they will give tzedaka and then gives it, they receive divine reward both for the "saying" and for the "giving." And in a case where the person ...
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Practical Implications of 20 Av
Are there any changes in davening or daily practice on the 20th of Av?
The Gemara lists the date as among those which marked the donation of wood to the Temple by particular families. The 20th seems ...
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How can tzedakah to the needy of Israel be justified?
In the Yad, the Rambam gives a set of priorities about tzedakah that could be summarized "near before far" except for the #1 priority of ransoming the captive. (Matenot Aniyim, 10.5)
How does giving ...
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Are Noachides/Non-Jews encouraged/expected to do maaser kesafim?
A friend of mines has been infatuated by Judaism for as long as I can remember. He came from the Christian world and has since left it. Even as a Christian he would take 10% of his income and give to ...
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Street performers and Tzedakah
In many countries, street performers juggle, perform tricks, or dance at stop lights. Would giving them change count as tzedakah? Or is this, halachically speaking, simply a business transaction? Does ...
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1answer
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Do non-Jews have the mitzvah of tzedoko?
Some one told me the Lubavicher Rebbe told non jews to do charity
Are there sources that they have a commandment to do so?
By them doing it it is only them doing a mitzvah they were not commanded to ...
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Why is Chametz burned instead of being donated to charity on Passover?
Slight preface: I’m Jewish, but secular at best. So I know “how things work” in some ways, but still have questions from my own perspective.
That said, one aspect of Passover has always confused me: ...
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With reference to Lev 23:22, what was the equivalent act of kindness for those with no harvestable produce?
The question "Why mention the ger in Lev 19:10, 23:22?" references Vayikra 23:22 and quotes from it:
When you reap the harvest of your Land, you shall not completely remove the corner of your field ...
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Matanos L'Evyonim
What constitutes a poor person? If someone is a student, and they are living off of loans without a current income, are they considered poor and could one fulfill the mitzvah of Matanos L'Evyonim by ...
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How do matanos laevyonim services work behind the scenes?
Many shuls and organizations provide a way to fulfill matanos laevyonim by giving online or sending a check made out to the organization.
How does this work? Is it as simple as "you're enabling them ...
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Can one give Tzeddakah retroactively?
If I gave more than 10% charity in a previous month, may I apply the surplus towards future months?
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Social Action/Responsibility in Judaism towards gentiles
Non-orthodox organisations place immense significance on social responsibility calling it "Tikkun Olam". Orthodoxy less so...
Are there any relevant rabbinic teachings on the topic of social action (...
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1answer
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Is it tzedaka for someone to give a gift dependent only on his recognition?
What does Rambam say about a person whose charitable donation depends on his getting recognition for it. Example: a person will donate the cost of building only if his name is on the building?
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What is a “Binyan Bayis fund”?
Sorry, but, yet another unfamiliar marriage-related question...
One of my distant cousin's daughter is engaged. Her mother told me that in lieu of sending gifts towards a bridal registry, she has ...
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1answer
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To whom is it not a mitzvah to give tzedakah?
I seem to recall a Rambam that says that if someone can work and chooses not to, there is no mitzvah to support such a person. But I can't find it. Am I mis-remembering?
EDIT: Is there something on ...
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Looking for a statement ascribed to the Chofetz Chaim
The Artscroll Machzor for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur notes in the footnotes to U’nesaneh Tokef (p. 483 in the Rosh Hashanah one, p. 533 in the Yom Kippur one) that “the Chofetz Chaim used to say ...
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Source for anecdote with Moses Montefiore and Charity
I have heard an anecdote told of Moses Montefiore explaining that his 'worth' was only what he gave to charity. This story is quoted in many places (ex. 1, 2, 3) to underscore the value of charity. I ...
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1answer
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Can time spent with others be counted as ma'aser, according to halacha?
I have a question about tzedakah. In regards to the giving of 10 percent of one's income, it is my understanding that one can count the giving of resources and time spent helping others as part of the ...
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Does charity received cancel out charity given?
In my community there is a big benefactor who provides tuition assistance for the Jewish day school.
A parent is in the practice of trying to give $2,000 a year to tzedakka but he receives $8,000 x 3 ...
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Donating Tzedaka and Nodrei Lev
You've received a fundraising call from a local frum institution and agree to donate $100. The individual on the phone directs you to the donation site to fill out the forms.
After you get off the ...
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Can you be buried with tzedokoh receipts?
When you pass away can you request to get buried with your tzedokoh receipts? Will the burial people allow it?
Is it worth it, I know everything gets recorded by God, but I've heard stories of people ...
