Charity: Difference between revisions
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→How Much Should a Person Give?
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#If one gives tzedaka while expressing a begrudging face one doesn't get any mitzvah.<ref>The Rambam (Matanot Laniyim 10:4) writes that a person should not give tzedaka with a sour face and if he does he loses his mitzvah. Radvaz sources it in Bava Batra 9b that a person is rewarded for cheering up a poor person. The Gra cites the source for this Rambam in the pasuk Devarim 15:10. The Sefer Hachinuch 479 seems to adopt the same approach that the mitzvah of tzedaka is to give it with happiness and giving in a begrudging manner isn't a mitzvah. Tzafnat Pane'ach says that the source for the Rambam is Chagiga 5a. Chagiga 5a shows that it is better not to give tzedaka than to give and embarrass the poor person. Avot Drebbe Natan ch. 13 writes that if a person gives someone a lot of presents with his face looking towards the ground it is like he gave him nothing.</ref> | #If one gives tzedaka while expressing a begrudging face one doesn't get any mitzvah.<ref>The Rambam (Matanot Laniyim 10:4) writes that a person should not give tzedaka with a sour face and if he does he loses his mitzvah. Radvaz sources it in Bava Batra 9b that a person is rewarded for cheering up a poor person. The Gra cites the source for this Rambam in the pasuk Devarim 15:10. The Sefer Hachinuch 479 seems to adopt the same approach that the mitzvah of tzedaka is to give it with happiness and giving in a begrudging manner isn't a mitzvah. Tzafnat Pane'ach says that the source for the Rambam is Chagiga 5a. Chagiga 5a shows that it is better not to give tzedaka than to give and embarrass the poor person. Avot Drebbe Natan ch. 13 writes that if a person gives someone a lot of presents with his face looking towards the ground it is like he gave him nothing.</ref> | ||
==How Much Should a Person Give?== | ==How Much Should a Person Give?== | ||
===Third of a Shekel=== | |||
# A minimal amount of tzedaka that one must give annually is a third of a shekel.<ref>Bava Batra 9a, Rambam (Matanot Laniyim 7:5), Yereyim 167, Smag (Asin 162), Geonim (responsa Geonei Mizrach Umarav 40). Derech Emunah (Matanot Aniyim 7:1 s.v. mitzvah aseh) isn't sure if tzedaka is fulfilled with less than a pruta, and even if it isn't not leaving a poor person empty handed it is enough to give even less than a pruta.</ref> | # A minimal amount of tzedaka that one must give annually is a third of a shekel.<ref>Bava Batra 9a, Rambam (Matanot Laniyim 7:5), Yereyim 167, Smag (Asin 162), Geonim (responsa Geonei Mizrach Umarav 40). Derech Emunah (Matanot Aniyim 7:1 s.v. mitzvah aseh) isn't sure if tzedaka is fulfilled with less than a pruta, and even if it isn't not leaving a poor person empty handed it is enough to give even less than a pruta.</ref> | ||
# Today, a third of a shekel is equivalent to 4.67 grams of silver, which is roughly $3.75.<Ref>Laws of Tzedakah and Maaser p. 8</ref> | |||
# If someone gives less than a third of a shekel doesn't fulfill his mitzvah of tzedakah at all.<ref>Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 250:2</ref> | |||
===Less than a Pruta=== | |||
# There is a mitzvah tzedaka even if one gives less than a pruta each time as long as it adds up over time to minimally a third of a shekel a year. A pruta is 1/40 of a gram of silver, so roughly 2 cents.<ref>Laws of Tzedakah and Maaser p. 8. See Derech Emunah 7:1 who is unsure about whether tzedaka is fulfilled with less than a pruta.</ref> | |||
===Maaser=== | |||
====Someone Who Can't Afford to Give Maaser==== | |||
#If someone doesn’t make enough to support his family expenses is exempt from maaser.<Ref>Igrot Moshe YD 2:113</ref> | #If someone doesn’t make enough to support his family expenses is exempt from maaser.<Ref>Igrot Moshe YD 2:113</ref> | ||
==How Much Should the Poor Receive?== | |||
===Whatever He Needs=== | ===Whatever He Needs=== | ||
#The obligation to give a poor person whatever he needs is an obligation of the community. If an individual is requested he is allowed to ask the congregation on his behalf to fill all of his needs.<Ref>Rama 250:1 writes that the obligation of supplying the poor with all of his needs applies to the community and not the individual. Therefore, if an individual is approached by a poor person he can tell the community to help him for whatever he lacks. This is based on the Bet Yosef 250:1. However, the Bet Yosef considers the Tur who assume otherwise. Bach 250:2 and Gra 250:3 disagree with the Rama while the Shach 250:1 defends the Rama. Laws of Tzedakah and Maaser p. 5 cites both approaches. [https://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=8978&pgnum=63 Tzedaka Umishpat 3:2] rules like the Rama. In fnt. 8 he says from Rashi the requested has to go to the gabbay tzedaka or community and can’t force the poor person to do that.</ref> | #The obligation to give a poor person whatever he needs is an obligation of the community. If an individual is requested he is allowed to ask the congregation on his behalf to fill all of his needs.<Ref>Rama 250:1 writes that the obligation of supplying the poor with all of his needs applies to the community and not the individual. Therefore, if an individual is approached by a poor person he can tell the community to help him for whatever he lacks. This is based on the Bet Yosef 250:1. However, the Bet Yosef considers the Tur who assume otherwise. Bach 250:2 and Gra 250:3 disagree with the Rama while the Shach 250:1 defends the Rama. Laws of Tzedakah and Maaser p. 5 cites both approaches. [https://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=8978&pgnum=63 Tzedaka Umishpat 3:2] rules like the Rama. In fnt. 8 he says from Rashi the requested has to go to the gabbay tzedaka or community and can’t force the poor person to do that.</ref> | ||
