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Charity: Difference between revisions
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==General guidelines== | ==General guidelines== | ||
# There is no bracha for the mitzvah of [[Tzedaka]]. See the footnote for different reasons suggested. <ref> The Sh"t HaRashba 1:18 explains that there's no bracha for the mitzvah of tzadaka because it depends on the reciever and since it is possible that he receiver will not accept the money, chazal didn't establish a bracha for the mitzvah. The Aruch HaShulchan YD 240:2 explains that the reason there is no bracha for Tzadaka is because both Jews and non-Jews do this deed. Since the primary difference between a Jew and non-Jew who take such actions is the intent, that the Jew does it in order to fulfill a mitzvah and the non-Jew does it because its moral, for such an action one may not say "Asher Kideshanu" - we were commanded in this specific action.</ | # There is no bracha for the mitzvah of [[Tzedaka]]. See the footnote for different reasons suggested. <ref> The Sh"t HaRashba 1:18 explains that there's no bracha for the mitzvah of tzadaka because it depends on the reciever and since it is possible that he receiver will not accept the money, chazal didn't establish a bracha for the mitzvah. The Aruch HaShulchan YD 240:2 explains that the reason there is no bracha for Tzadaka is because both Jews and non-Jews do this deed. Since the primary difference between a Jew and non-Jew who take such actions is the intent, that the Jew does it in order to fulfill a mitzvah and the non-Jew does it because its moral, for such an action one may not say "Asher Kideshanu" - we were commanded in this specific action.</ref> | ||
# Many opinions hold that if one decided to give charity mentally without expressing it verbally, one should fulfill that decision. <ref>There's two opinions in Shulchan Aruch C”M 212:8 if a mental thought to make something hekdesh or [[tzedaka]] is binding. The Rama C”M 212:8 and Y"D 258:13 writes that the halacha is that it is binding. Yachava Daat 6:52 has a doubt about the opinion of Shulchan Aruch. On the one hand, since there are two opinions in S”A, it would seem that the halacha is like the second one, who in this case is lenient. But, on the other hand, the second opinion is quoted as yesh mi she'omer in singular, whereas the first is quoted in plural yesh omrim. Yalkut Yosef y"d 247-259:12 just quotes S"A but doesn't give a definitive ruling. In one article of [http://www.dailyhalacha.com/displayRead.asp?readID=1205 DailyHalacha by Rabbi Mansour], he writes that we're lenient according to the opinion of the Daat Esh who says that everyone agrees that its not binding if the whole event was mental but there's a dispute if you said you'd give but didn't specify. However, the Yachava Daat 6:52 argues that this opinion is not implied by S"A. However, in another article [http://www.dailyhalacha.com/displayRead.asp?readID=2375 Rabbi Mansour] writes that we're machmir that it is binding according to the Or Letzion. </ref> | # Many opinions hold that if one decided to give charity mentally without expressing it verbally, one should fulfill that decision. <ref>There's two opinions in Shulchan Aruch C”M 212:8 if a mental thought to make something hekdesh or [[tzedaka]] is binding. The Rama C”M 212:8 and Y"D 258:13 writes that the halacha is that it is binding. Yachava Daat 6:52 has a doubt about the opinion of Shulchan Aruch. On the one hand, since there are two opinions in S”A, it would seem that the halacha is like the second one, who in this case is lenient. But, on the other hand, the second opinion is quoted as yesh mi she'omer in singular, whereas the first is quoted in plural yesh omrim. Yalkut Yosef y"d 247-259:12 just quotes S"A but doesn't give a definitive ruling. In one article of [http://www.dailyhalacha.com/displayRead.asp?readID=1205 DailyHalacha by Rabbi Mansour], he writes that we're lenient according to the opinion of the Daat Esh who says that everyone agrees that its not binding if the whole event was mental but there's a dispute if you said you'd give but didn't specify. However, the Yachava Daat 6:52 argues that this opinion is not implied by S"A. However, in another article [http://www.dailyhalacha.com/displayRead.asp?readID=2375 Rabbi Mansour] writes that we're machmir that it is binding according to the Or Letzion. </ref> | ||
# If one '''verbalizes''' this commitment, one must make good on it immediately to not violate the command "בל תאחר / do not delay" <ref> Kitzur S"A 34:9 </ref>. If no poor are available, one must set it aside until he finds poor people. <ref> | # If one '''verbalizes''' this commitment, one must make good on it immediately to not violate the command "בל תאחר / do not delay" <ref> Kitzur S"A 34:9 </ref>. If no poor are available, one must set it aside until he finds poor people. <ref> Kitzur S"A 34:9 </ref>. | ||
# One should be very careful not to raise his voice against or embarrass a poor person <ref> Kitzur S"A 34:8 </ref>. | # One should be very careful not to raise his voice against or embarrass a poor person <ref> Kitzur S"A 34:8 </ref>. | ||
# There is doubt whether it counts as [[Tzedaka]] if you give [[Tzedaka]] to someone who is a fraud. Therefore, one must attempt to verify whether the person is poor before one gives <ref> http://www.ravaviner.com/2010/02/giving-tzedakah-to-beggars.html </ref>. | # There is doubt whether it counts as [[Tzedaka]] if you give [[Tzedaka]] to someone who is a fraud. Therefore, one must attempt to verify whether the person is poor before one gives <ref> http://www.ravaviner.com/2010/02/giving-tzedakah-to-beggars.html </ref>. | ||
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==Who is obligated to give?== | ==Who is obligated to give?== | ||
# Even a poor person, himself supported from [[Tzedaka]], who has some money of his own that isn't needed for business, should give [[Tzedaka]] even if it’s only a small amount. <Ref>Kitzur S”A 34:2 </ref>. This is because he has a way of making a livelihood--namely, collecting [[Tzedaka]]--which won't be hampered by his giving [[Tzedaka]] <ref> | # Even a poor person, himself supported from [[Tzedaka]], who has some money of his own that isn't needed for business, should give [[Tzedaka]] even if it’s only a small amount. <Ref>Kitzur S”A 34:2 </ref>. This is because he has a way of making a livelihood--namely, collecting [[Tzedaka]]--which won't be hampered by his giving [[Tzedaka]] <ref>Kitzur S”A 34:2 </ref>. | ||
# A poor person who doesn't have much shouldn't feel bad that he can't give much, because his small amount is better than a lot from a wealthy person <ref> | # A poor person who doesn't have much shouldn't feel bad that he can't give much, because his small amount is better than a lot from a wealthy person <ref> Kitzur S”A 34:2 </ref>. | ||
# Someone who only has enough for his livelihood isn't obligated to give, since his livelihood takes precedence to others <ref> | # Someone who only has enough for his livelihood isn't obligated to give, since his livelihood takes precedence to others <ref> Kitzur S”A 34:2 </ref>. | ||
==How much to give== | ==How much to give== | ||
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# It is better to give a lot of poor people a little money, then to give one poor person a lot of money. <ref> Rambam Peirush Hamishnayot Avot 3:15 </ref> | # It is better to give a lot of poor people a little money, then to give one poor person a lot of money. <ref> Rambam Peirush Hamishnayot Avot 3:15 </ref> | ||
# One who gives to charity shouldn't give more than a fifth of his income, so that he doesn't become poor himself during his life; on his death bed, he can give up to 1/3 of his inheritance to charity <ref> Kitzur S"A 34:4 </ref>. | # One who gives to charity shouldn't give more than a fifth of his income, so that he doesn't become poor himself during his life; on his death bed, he can give up to 1/3 of his inheritance to charity <ref> Kitzur S"A 34:4 </ref>. | ||
# One is forbidden to turn away a beggar | # One is forbidden to turn away a beggar empty-handed, even if one only gives him one fig. If one doesn't have any money, one should comfort him with words <ref> Kitzur S"A 34:8 </ref>. | ||
==Whom To Give To== | ==Whom To Give To== | ||
# The community should also give non-Jews food and clothing, similar to Jews, because of "Darchei Shalom" / so as to not promote poor relations with non-Jews <ref> Kitzur S"A 34:3 </ref>. | # The community should also give non-Jews food and clothing, similar to Jews, because of "Darchei Shalom" / so as to not promote poor relations with non-Jews <ref> Kitzur S"A 34:3 </ref>. | ||
# In order of preference: One should give to his poor relatives before the poor of his city, the poor of his city before the poor of a different city. <ref> Kitzur S"A 34:6, learned out from the verse: לאחיך לעניך ולאביונך בארצך </ref>. However, a public charity collector must not give precedence to his relatives <ref> | # In order of preference: One should give to his poor relatives before the poor of his city, the poor of his city before the poor of a different city. <ref> Kitzur S"A 34:6, learned out from the verse: לאחיך לעניך ולאביונך בארצך </ref>. However, a public charity collector must not give precedence to his relatives <ref> Kitzur S"A 34:6 </ref>. | ||
# It is still called "[[Tzedaka]]" to give money to one's children above 6 years of age (one is not obligated to support them beyond that age), in order to support one's sons for Torah learning or guide one's daughters in a proper path, and to give money to a father who can't support himself. Indeed, they take precedence over other people entitled to receive [[Tzedaka]] <ref> | # It is still called "[[Tzedaka]]" to give money to one's children above 6 years of age (one is not obligated to support them beyond that age), in order to support one's sons for Torah learning or guide one's daughters in a proper path, and to give money to a father who can't support himself. Indeed, they take precedence over other people entitled to receive [[Tzedaka]] <ref> Kitzur S"A 34:6 </ref>. | ||
# One must be especially careful to give to a poor Torah scholar. If he doesn't want to receive it, we sell him merchandise at a low price and buy it at a high price, or give him money to do business. <ref> Kitzur S"A 34:14 </ref>. | # One must be especially careful to give to a poor Torah scholar. If he doesn't want to receive it, we sell him merchandise at a low price and buy it at a high price, or give him money to do business. <ref> Kitzur S"A 34:14 </ref>. | ||
==How to Give it== | ==How to Give it== | ||
# One who gives [[Tzedaka]] should do it from the best of his property. If one buys a place of [[prayer]], it should be nicer than his house. One who feeds a poor person should give him from the best things on his table. One who gives clothing to someone who doesn't have should give him from the nicest of his clothing. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 34:5 </ref>. | # One who gives [[Tzedaka]] should do it from the best of his property. If one buys a place of [[prayer]], it should be nicer than his house. One who feeds a poor person should give him from the best things on his table. One who gives clothing to someone who doesn't have should give him from the nicest of his clothing. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 34:5 </ref>. | ||
# Anyone who gives [[Tzedaka]] to a poor person with a negative expression or face looking at the ground--even if he gave him 1,000 gold pieces--loses his merit, and in fact violates a Torah commandment <ref> Kitzur S"A 34:7 </ref>. Rather, one is obligated to give him with a nice expression, with happiness, with empathy for his plight, and with words of encouragement <ref> | # Anyone who gives [[Tzedaka]] to a poor person with a negative expression or face looking at the ground--even if he gave him 1,000 gold pieces--loses his merit, and in fact violates a Torah commandment <ref> Kitzur S"A 34:7 </ref>. Rather, one is obligated to give him with a nice expression, with happiness, with empathy for his plight, and with words of encouragement <ref> Kitzur S"A 34:7 </ref>. | ||
# The highest form of [[Tzedaka]] is preventing a poor person from becoming poor in the first place--for example, giving him a proper gift in a respectable way that prevents him from becoming poor, loaning him, becoming a business partner, or finding him a job <ref> Kitzur S"A 34:12 </ref>. | # The highest form of [[Tzedaka]] is preventing a poor person from becoming poor in the first place--for example, giving him a proper gift in a respectable way that prevents him from becoming poor, loaning him, becoming a business partner, or finding him a job <ref> Kitzur S"A 34:12 </ref>. | ||
# One should be careful to give [[Tzedaka]] as privately as possible; if possible, it is best if he doesn't know whom he is giving to, and they don't know whom they received it from. <ref> Kitzur S"A 34:13. See earlier, that it is clear that one must give to a person in legitimate need </ref>. | # One should be careful to give [[Tzedaka]] as privately as possible; if possible, it is best if he doesn't know whom he is giving to, and they don't know whom they received it from. <ref> Kitzur S"A 34:13. See earlier, that it is clear that one must give to a person in legitimate need </ref>. | ||
