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Matanot LeEvyonim: Difference between revisions
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# One is permitted to give a check as long as one can draw the money on [[Purim]], meaning the check is not postdated and the banks are open. <ref> Mishnah Halachot 6:122 </ref> | # One is permitted to give a check as long as one can draw the money on [[Purim]], meaning the check is not postdated and the banks are open. <ref> Mishnah Halachot 6:122 </ref> | ||
==How much does one have to give for Matanot L'evyonim== | ==How much does one have to give for Matanot L'evyonim== | ||
# One is obligated to give two gifts of [[charity]] to two poor people, one to each person. <Ref>In the Gemara [[Megillah]] 7a, Rav Yosef says that one should give two gifts to two poor people for Matanot LeEvyonim. Rashi explains that one should give one gift to each poor person. He says that this is derived from the word Matanot, which being in plural means at least 2 gifts, and Evyonim, which being in plural at least 2 poor people. Tur and S”A 694:1 codify this as halacha.</ref> | # One is obligated to give two gifts of [[charity]] to two poor people, one to each person. <Ref>In the Gemara [[Megillah]] 7a, Rav Yosef says that one should give two gifts to two poor people for Matanot LeEvyonim. Rashi explains that one should give one gift to each poor person. He says that this is derived from the word Matanot, which being in plural means at least 2 gifts, and Evyonim, which being in plural at least 2 poor people. Tur and S”A 694:1 codify this as halacha. Esther 9:22 states, “U’matanos La’evyonim,” in the plural form implying that one is obligated to give to more than one person. M.B. 694:2 quotes the Chidushei Ha’ritva saying that the | ||
minimum shiur to give is at least two prutah’s worth, as anything less is not considered a gift. M.B. 694:3 explains that this obligation to give one matanah to two people is only to fulfill the lowest level of the obligation. However, one should try to give as much tzedakah as possible on the day of Purim “for there is no greater simcha than being mesameach a poor person.”</ref> | |||
# Some say that the amount one should give for each of the poor people is at least [[Measurements#Prutah| Prutah]] (which is 2.5 Agurot which is a 1/25 of a Shekel) <ref>Mishna Brurah 694:2 quotes the Ritva saying that one fulfills one's obligation even with two prutot (one [[Measurements#Prutah|prutah]] per poor person). Sh”t Tzitz Eliezer 7:27(7) (at end) seems to agree that this is the accepted halacha</ref> whereas others say the minimum amount is how much it would cost to buy a meal of 3 [[Measurements#KeBaytzah| KeBaytzim]] of bread. <Ref>Shaarei Teshuva 694:1 quoting the Zera Emet 1:11, Maharsha ([[Megillah]] 7a), Kaf HaChaim 695:7, Teshuvot VeHanhagot 3:231, Piskei Teshuvot 694:6 </ref> It’s proper to be strict for the second opinion. <Ref>Yalkut Yosef (Kitzur S”A 694:1). Similarly, Yeme Mishteh VeSimcha pg 244 quotes Rav Elyashiv as saying that even though one fulfills one's obligation with a [[Prutah]], nonetheless, it's proper to give each poor person about 5 shekalim which is an amount which would make the poor person happy. Halichot Shlomo (chap 19, note 62) quotes Rav Shlomo Zalman as having said that in order to fulfill all opinions one should give an amount which is significant by the giver and by the taker's standards. </ref> | # Some say that the amount one should give for each of the poor people is at least [[Measurements#Prutah| Prutah]] (which is 2.5 Agurot which is a 1/25 of a Shekel) <ref>Mishna Brurah 694:2 quotes the Ritva saying that one fulfills one's obligation even with two prutot (one [[Measurements#Prutah|prutah]] per poor person). Sh”t Tzitz Eliezer 7:27(7) (at end) seems to agree that this is the accepted halacha</ref> whereas others say the minimum amount is how much it would cost to buy a meal of 3 [[Measurements#KeBaytzah| KeBaytzim]] of bread. <Ref>Shaarei Teshuva 694:1 quoting the Zera Emet 1:11, Maharsha ([[Megillah]] 7a), Kaf HaChaim 695:7, Teshuvot VeHanhagot 3:231, Piskei Teshuvot 694:6 </ref> It’s proper to be strict for the second opinion. <Ref>Yalkut Yosef (Kitzur S”A 694:1). Similarly, Yeme Mishteh VeSimcha pg 244 quotes Rav Elyashiv as saying that even though one fulfills one's obligation with a [[Prutah]], nonetheless, it's proper to give each poor person about 5 shekalim which is an amount which would make the poor person happy. Halichot Shlomo (chap 19, note 62) quotes Rav Shlomo Zalman as having said that in order to fulfill all opinions one should give an amount which is significant by the giver and by the taker's standards. </ref> | ||
==Who should one give Matanot L'evyonim to?== | ==Who should one give Matanot L'evyonim to?== | ||
# Nowadays, someone who doesn’t have a stable income that can support one’s family for normal expenses and doesn’t have property that’s not usually used and could be sold or if one has abnormal expenses such as for medical bills, or making a wedding for which one can not afford, is considered a poor person regarding this mitzvah. <ref>Piskei Teshuvot 694:2 </ref> | # Nowadays, someone who doesn’t have a stable income that can support one’s family for normal expenses and doesn’t have property that’s not usually used and could be sold or if one has abnormal expenses such as for medical bills, or making a wedding for which one can not afford, is considered a poor person regarding this mitzvah. <ref>Piskei Teshuvot 694:2 </ref> | ||
