Charity: Difference between revisions
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* Bet Yosef seems to equate the Smak with the Tur. Also, Shulchan Aruch quotes the conclusion of the Tur without his other considerations. Gra 253:6 fills them in. Badei Hashulchan to 253:2, Shevet Halevi 2:120, and Rav Elyashiv cited above seem to follow the approach of the Tur that in essence there is an obligation today to ensure that the poor have a steady income.</ref> | * Bet Yosef seems to equate the Smak with the Tur. Also, Shulchan Aruch quotes the conclusion of the Tur without his other considerations. Gra 253:6 fills them in. Badei Hashulchan to 253:2, Shevet Halevi 2:120, and Rav Elyashiv cited above seem to follow the approach of the Tur that in essence there is an obligation today to ensure that the poor have a steady income.</ref> | ||
# Someone who can work and refuses and isn't learning Torah full time should not receive tzedaka. In practice someone requesting tzedaka can't know and shouldn't judge if someone unemployed isn't able to work because of a sickness or the like and therefore must give out of doubt.<Ref>B'orach Tzedaka 5:14 p. 71 citing Sefer Chasidim ch. 1035, Rav Yakov Kamenetsky (Emet Lyakov YD 253 fnt. 141), Rav Elyashiv, and Shevet Hakehati 5:177.</ref> | # Someone who can work and refuses and isn't learning Torah full time should not receive tzedaka. In practice someone requesting tzedaka can't know and shouldn't judge if someone unemployed isn't able to work because of a sickness or the like and therefore must give out of doubt.<Ref>B'orach Tzedaka 5:14 p. 71 citing Sefer Chasidim ch. 1035, Rav Yakov Kamenetsky (Emet Lyakov YD 253 fnt. 141), Rav Elyashiv, and Shevet Hakehati 5:177.</ref> | ||
===Selling Property or Utensils or Savings Before Taking=== | |||
# A poor person doesn't need to sell his household utensils that he uses for eating or sleeping. For example, he doesn't have to sell his dishes, clothing, or beds of good quality to purchase cheaper ones. Items that aren't used for direct bodily needs, such as utensils to prepare food, he should sell them and get cheaper ones before taking tzedaka.<ref>Mishna Peah 8:8 writes that a person doesn't need to sell his household items before taking tzedaka if he's poor. Gemara Ketubot 68a resolves a contradiction between this Mishna and a contradictory briatta. The Rif 29b and Rambam (Matanot Aniyim 9:14) explain that before he collects from communal funds he needs to sell any utensil that isn't necessary for eating, wearing clothing, and sleeping. He could take tzedaka privately from individuals without selling his utensils. Rabbenu Tam (Tosfot Ketubot 68a) holds that a poor person doesn't need to sell his household utensils if he gets them after he started to take tzedaka. However, before taking tzedaka he needs to sell his utensils. Tur 253:1 cites this interpretation as well. Rashi Ketubot 68a explains that he doesn't have to sell his utensils unless he stole from the poor and can't repay it. Shulchan Aruch and Rama Y.D. 253:1 codifies the opinion of the Rif and Rambam. Shach 253:4 cites also Rabbenu Tam and adds that a rabbi who rules like Rashi isn't scorned.</ref> | |||
#Someone who has money put away for his children's weddings, but otherwise is not making a steady income can take tzedaka and doesn't have to use that savings first.<Ref>Chelkat Yakov YD 137 writes that someone in kollel who saved money for his children's weddings he doesn't need to spend it before taking tzedaka if otherwise he doesn't get enough for his parnasa from his stipend. He explains that the money for his children's wedding is like a household utensil that he doesn't need to sell. B'orach Tzedaka ch. 5 fnt. 20 p. 70 quotes that Rav Chaim Pinchas Sheinberg and Rav Chaim Kanievsky agreed. However, he also quotes Rav Elyashiv disagreed that he shouldn't keep money in savings if he's taking tzedaka. First he should use that up.</ref> | |||
===Non-Jews=== | ===Non-Jews=== | ||
