Matanot LeEvyonim: Difference between revisions
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# Some say that those are financially dependent on their parents, even if they are above the age of Bar/Bat Mitzva are exempt from Matanot L'evyonim.<ref>Ohr Letzion 4:58:3. Nevertheless, he adds that ideally the father should give them money to allow them to fulfill the mitzva. see however Aruch Hashulchan 694:2 who says that even if children are financially dependent, they have their own obligation to give Matanot Levyonim.</ref> | # Some say that those are financially dependent on their parents, even if they are above the age of Bar/Bat Mitzva are exempt from Matanot L'evyonim.<ref>Ohr Letzion 4:58:3. Nevertheless, he adds that ideally the father should give them money to allow them to fulfill the mitzva. see however Aruch Hashulchan 694:2 who says that even if children are financially dependent, they have their own obligation to give Matanot Levyonim.</ref> | ||
# Children from the age of 6 and above should be taught to give Matanot Laevyonim.<ref> Ohr Letzion 4:58:3</ref> | # Children from the age of 6 and above should be taught to give Matanot Laevyonim.<ref> Ohr Letzion 4:58:3</ref> | ||
# Even a poor person who relies on [[charity]] to support himself is obligated to give Matanot L'evyonim. <Ref> Shulchan Aruch and Mishna Brurah 694:1 | # Even a poor person who relies on [[charity]] to support himself is obligated to give Matanot L'evyonim. <Ref> Shulchan Aruch and Mishna Brurah 694:1. The Aruch Hashulchan 694:2 quotes the Bach, Taz, and Pri Megadim explaining that this obligation of the poor person to give to other poor people is similar to his obligation to sell his possessions in order to buy Chanukah candles and four cups of wine for the Pesach Seder. </ref> Two poor people can give money to each other in order to fulfill this mitzva.<ref>Mishna Brura O.C. 694:2 quotes the Pri Megadim explaining that the poor person can switch meals with two other poor people in order to fulfill his obligation without having to lose money. Ben Ish Chai Tetzaveh Halacha 15 agrees </ref> | ||
==When Should Matanot L'evyonim be Given?== | ==When Should Matanot L'evyonim be Given?== | ||
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# Some say that the amount one should give for each of the poor people is at least [[Measurements#Prutah| Prutah]] <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. Prutah is 4 Agurot or 1/25 of a Shekel.</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]] <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. Prutah is 4 Agurot or 1/25 of a Shekel.</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> | ||
# If you give money to someone who distributes money for Matanot Levyonim enough for two poor people one fulfills one's obligation. Even if the distributor really pools all of the money and gives a small percent of all of the money to each poor person and it turns out that one's donation didn't result in an appreciatable amount to two people one still fulfills one's obligation.<ref>Mishnat Hamishpat (Hilchot Tzedaka Biurim 251:2 p. 144) writes that we can rely on berierah for the derabbanan mitzvah of matanot levyonim to say it is was as though one gave to two poor people a significant amount. He cites Rav Elyashiv to this effect. | # If you give money to someone who distributes money for Matanot Levyonim enough for two poor people one fulfills one's obligation. Even if the distributor really pools all of the money and gives a small percent of all of the money to each poor person and it turns out that one's donation didn't result in an appreciatable amount to two people one still fulfills one's obligation.<ref>Mishnat Hamishpat (Hilchot Tzedaka Biurim 251:2 p. 144) writes that we can rely on berierah for the derabbanan mitzvah of matanot levyonim to say it is was as though one gave to two poor people a significant amount. He cites Rav Elyashiv to this effect. | ||
* Chevel Nechalato v. 16 p. 143 quotes Rav | * Chevel Nechalato v. 16 p. 143 quotes Rav Neventzal who says that matanot levyonim is effective with berierah whether it is derabbanan or deoritta since there’s no need for a specific accomplishment with one person. The goal is just that you gave tzedaka and Hashem considers it as a mitzvah. </ref> | ||
# One should not use money from Maaser for Matanot Laevyonim.<ref> Chazon Ovadia Purim pg. 170 based on Rama Y.D. 249:1 </ref> | |||
==Who Should be Given Matanot L'evyonim?== | ==Who Should be Given Matanot L'evyonim?== | ||
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# The mitzvah can be fulfilled by giving money to men, women or children. However, if the women and children rely on the father for sustenance, then giving to a father and his child or a husband and his wife would only be viewed as giving to one person <ref> Aruch Hashulchan 694:2 </ref>. | # The mitzvah can be fulfilled by giving money to men, women or children. However, if the women and children rely on the father for sustenance, then giving to a father and his child or a husband and his wife would only be viewed as giving to one person <ref> Aruch Hashulchan 694:2 </ref>. | ||
# One should not check if the poor person is really in need of money, but one should be willing to give to anyone who asks throughout the entire day of Purim. <ref> S.A. 694:3. The Aruch Hashulchan 694:3 actually learns this statement of the Shulchan Aruch to be a leniency within the obligation of Tzedaka that one can fulfill his obligation of giving Matanos Le’evyonim by giving to almost anyone and he does not have to check to see if they really need money. According to this understanding of the S.A one need not give to every person that asks. </ref> | # One should not check if the poor person is really in need of money, but one should be willing to give to anyone who asks throughout the entire day of Purim. <ref> S.A. 694:3. The Aruch Hashulchan 694:3 actually learns this statement of the Shulchan Aruch to be a leniency within the obligation of Tzedaka that one can fulfill his obligation of giving Matanos Le’evyonim by giving to almost anyone and he does not have to check to see if they really need money. According to this understanding of the S.A one need not give to every person that asks. </ref> | ||
# One who gives charity to a non-Jewish person has not fulfilled the mitzva of Matanot Laevyonim.<ref> Kaf Hachaim 694:3 </ref> | |||
==What to Give for Matanot Laevyonim?== | ==What to Give for Matanot Laevyonim?== | ||
# One can give either money or food as long as these things can be easily used on Purim. <ref> | # One can give either money or food as long as these things can be easily used on Purim. <ref> Mishna Berura 694:2 explains that it is best to give the poor person specifically for his needs on the day of Purim. Thus, food can often be better than money. </ref> | ||
# One is permitted to give a check.<ref> Mishneh Halachot 6:122, Rivevos Efraim 5:455:2, Chazon Ovadia pg. 170-171 and Halichos Shlomo Purim page 342 </ref>. Some poskim claim that this is only 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> Others are lenient.<ref> Chacham Ovadia Yosef (Chazon Ovadia pg. 170-171), Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Halichos Shlomo Purim page 342) and Rav Belsky (Piskei Harav Belsky pg. 124) explain that one can use a check even if the bank is not open on Purim. Rav Belsky does agree that one should not use a post-dated check. </ref> | # One is permitted to give a check.<ref> Mishneh Halachot 6:122, Rivevos Efraim 5:455:2, Chazon Ovadia pg. 170-171 and Halichos Shlomo Purim page 342 </ref>. Some poskim claim that this is only 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> Others are lenient.<ref> Chacham Ovadia Yosef (Chazon Ovadia pg. 170-171), Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Halichos Shlomo Purim page 342) and Rav Belsky (Piskei Harav Belsky pg. 124) explain that one can use a check even if the bank is not open on Purim. Rav Belsky does agree that one should not use a post-dated check. </ref> | ||
# Giving clothing or other items is not sufficient to fulfill the mitzva.<ref> Chazon Ovadia Purim pg. 166 </ref> | # Giving clothing or other items is not sufficient to fulfill the mitzva.<ref> Chazon Ovadia Purim pg. 166 </ref> | ||
