Charity: Difference between revisions
From Halachipedia
→Whom To Give To
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==Whom To Give To== | ==Whom To Give To== | ||
===Definition of Poor=== | |||
#Someone who is lacking basic needs for him or herself or their family according to their community is considered poor in order to collect tzedaka.<ref>Aruch Hashulchan 251:7 explains that someone who just has a small amount of bread and water and nothing else is considered someone who is poor and doesn't have to give tzedaka. It doesn't include any nicer foods or luxuries. Rav Elyashiv (B'orach Tzedaka p. 348 quoted by Rav Dovid Morgenstern) held that if someone has enough money for his food and clothing but not enough for periodic expenses such as medical bills, rent, or making a wedding for a child they are considered poor and giving them is matanot levyonim. However, someone who has enough for this year's expenses giving to them so that they can pay for next year's expenses is not considered a poor person for matanot levyonim.</ref> | |||
===Non-Jews=== | ===Non-Jews=== | ||
# The community should give non-Jews food and clothing just like they give to Jews, because of "Darchei Shalom," promoting positive relations with non-Jews.<ref>Rama Y.D. 251:1, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 34:3. The Ran Gittin 28a s.v. kovrin understands that one should support poor non-Jews even if they're not asking together with Jewish poor people. However, the Mordechai (cited by Darkei Moshe 251:1) argues that only if the Jewish and non-Jewish poor are requesting simultaneously and it would be apparent that one wouldn't give to a non-Jew that one should give to the non-Jew as well. Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 151:12 and Shach 251:2 rule like the Ran. Gra 251:2 understands the Rama to hold like the Mordechai but personally seems to agree with the Ran. </ref> | # The community should give non-Jews food and clothing just like they give to Jews, because of "Darchei Shalom," promoting positive relations with non-Jews.<ref>Rama Y.D. 251:1, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 34:3. The Ran Gittin 28a s.v. kovrin understands that one should support poor non-Jews even if they're not asking together with Jewish poor people. However, the Mordechai (cited by Darkei Moshe 251:1) argues that only if the Jewish and non-Jewish poor are requesting simultaneously and it would be apparent that one wouldn't give to a non-Jew that one should give to the non-Jew as well. Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 151:12 and Shach 251:2 rule like the Ran. Gra 251:2 understands the Rama to hold like the Mordechai but personally seems to agree with the Ran. </ref> | ||
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===Torah Scholars=== | ===Torah Scholars=== | ||
# One must be especially careful to give to a poor Torah scholar. If he doesn't want to receive it, one should try to help him make money in an honorable way or give him money to do business.<ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 34:14 </ref>. | # One must be especially careful to give to a poor Torah scholar. If he doesn't want to receive it, one should try to help him make money in an honorable way or give him money to do business.<ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 34:14 </ref>. | ||
==Giving to Those Collecting in Shul== | ==Giving to Those Collecting in Shul== | ||
#The halacha is that it is forbidden to refuse a poor person’s request for tzedaka. Even though when they’re collecting from many people it isn’t necessary to give them a large donation, one should still give them something.<ref>Rambam (Matanot Laniyim 7:7) based on Tehillim 74:21, </ref> Some defend the practice of those who don’t give someone collecting tzedaka in shul.<ref>Teshuvot Vehanhagot 5:288 defends those who don't give when someone is collecting in a shul because it is only a problem to deny a poor person's request and leave him empty handed when he expected that he would get something. However, since he knows that he's not going to get from everyone in shul there's no such expectation and therefore no prohibition on every person. | #The halacha is that it is forbidden to refuse a poor person’s request for tzedaka. Even though when they’re collecting from many people it isn’t necessary to give them a large donation, one should still give them something.<ref>Rambam (Matanot Laniyim 7:7) based on Tehillim 74:21, </ref> Some defend the practice of those who don’t give someone collecting tzedaka in shul.<ref>Teshuvot Vehanhagot 5:288 defends those who don't give when someone is collecting in a shul because it is only a problem to deny a poor person's request and leave him empty handed when he expected that he would get something. However, since he knows that he's not going to get from everyone in shul there's no such expectation and therefore no prohibition on every person. | ||
