Charity: Difference between revisions
From Halachipedia
→Giving to Those Collecting in Shul
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#With respect to this prohibition of returning a poor person empty handed it is sufficient to give them any amount even if it is less than a pruta.<ref>Derech Emunah 7:49</ref> | #With respect to this prohibition of returning a poor person empty handed it is sufficient to give them any amount even if it is less than a pruta.<ref>Derech Emunah 7:49</ref> | ||
#If he doesn’t have anything to give the poor person he should nonetheless try to appease the poor person, empathize with his troubles, and express regret for not having anything to give.<ref>Derech Emunah 7:49</ref> | #If he doesn’t have anything to give the poor person he should nonetheless try to appease the poor person, empathize with his troubles, and express regret for not having anything to give.<ref>Derech Emunah 7:49</ref> | ||
===Checking Certificates of the Poor=== | |||
#Before giving tzedaka, besides food, you need to check that the poor person is honest and really needs the money.<ref>Psakim Vteshuvot 251:15 writes that we should rely on the minhag to give to anyone with a valid certificate that says that they can collect money. He says that the decrees set by local rabbis sometimes to disallow anyone without a proper certificate from a local rabbi or local bet din is forbidden. He quotes this from Rav Chaim Pinchas Sheinberg and Mishna Halachot 13:173. Rav Elyashiv in Kovetz Teshuvot 4:123 writes that we should insist to check and not rely on every certificate because there are many who aren't honest. Rif bava batra 6b and Rosh hold that you need two witnesses, Piskei Din Yerushalayim Dinei Mamonot Vbirurei Yahadut v. 3 p. 157 rules accordingly that it is necessary to ascertain the integrity of the poor person with two witnesses otherwise they should not be given anything.</ref> | |||
==How to Give it== | ==How to Give it== | ||
