These days, between kesseh l’asor (Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur), were special ones in 770. Beyond the Yomim Nora’im atmosphere and the preparations for Shabbos Shuva and Yom Kippur, 770 had a festive atmosphere, thanks to the yechidus for wealthy people which took place during this time
The commandant to tithe ten percent of our produce in the Land of Israel is taken from the verse, “Take a tithe of all the seed crops that come forth in the field each year.” This refers specifically to the ten percent of our produce that we must consume in Jerusalem.
We met in shul, as usual, in the afternoon. In the winter, when the sun sets so early, Mincha and Maariv are davened soon after the end of the school day. Right after school, we rush home to put down our briefcases and from there we go to shul for Mincha and Maariv.
Parents often support their grown children by helping them with monthly expenditures, covering a down payment on a house, paying for the expenses of a simcha (happy occasion)—such as the bris of a newborn grandson, new-baby paraphernalia—and other such gifts. Are the children obligated to pay maaser (lit., “a tenth”; refers to the practice of tithing earnings for charity) on the money they receive?
“If there will be a destitute person among you, any of your brothers, in any of your cities, in the Land that G-d, your G-d, is giving you. You must not harden your heart or shut your hand from your destitute brother. Rather you must surely open your hand to him…”
R’ Shlomo, the rosh yeshiva, paced his room. He was wracking his brains, trying to find a solution to a serious problem.
September 19, 2017