Tzedakah FAQ’s

  In connection with Shabbos Shkolim we present a collection of halachic articles from Halacha2Go.com on the topic of tzedakah, as well as some questions and answers from AskTheRav.com

By Horav Yosef Yeshaya Braun, Mara D’asra and member of the Crown Heights Beis Din.

Must I give tzedakah to anyone who asks?

It is a Mitzvah to give tzedakah to anyone who asks for it. One is not allowed to turn them away without giving them something.

This is based on a pasuk in Tehillim, al yoshev dach nichlam, one can’t turn them away empty-handed so that they are not insulted or hurt.

In addition, there is a Mitzvas Lo Ta’ase min haTorah of lo se’ametz es levovocho - not to hold back and stiffen one’s heart from giving a person tzedakah.

[Lo se’ametz es Levovcho does not apply if one already gave their requisite amount of tzedakah that they are supposed to give for that year.]

Is there a minimum amount of tzedakah you must give to a collector?

The Rambam writes that one can fulfill this mitzvah even by giving them food the size of k’grogeres, a single fig or an actual fig. This means, translated to money-terms, that it could be a small amount of money, and does not even have to be a shove prutah.

Regarding a person who is collecting from door to door, one has to give that person only a small amount. One does not really have to give them everything that they need, dei machsoiro, because they are collecting from other people as well.

What if he is collecting for an institution?

This is not about the mitzvah of tzedakah; this is about not offending the person. It therefore does not apply to someone who is collecting for other people or for institutions, as in these particular cases, one is not letting the collector personally go empty-handed and humiliated, but only the third-party, which is not a problem in this case.

Does it mean I need to stop all I’m doing anytime someone comes to collect?

Sometimes one is bombarded with people all day long while learning and davening or at home. Therefore, if one is in the middle of a mitzvah, even if one is busy with their children which is also a mitzvah, they do not have to do another mitzvah. However, if one is in the middle of learning, they have to interrupt their learning and give the person tzedakah. (Based on Halacha2go #2 and #64)

Can I separate into an envelope Maaser at night? Can I make an online Maaser/Tzedakah donation at night?

Yes to both questions.

The only issue with giving tzedakah at night is if giving directly to the poor person. Furthermore, even when giving to a poor person, if he actually asks for money, one is obligated to give, even at night.

After midnight, one may give regardless.(AsktheRav.com*)

Collecting Tzedakah During Davening

Gabo’ei tzedakah, people who collect tzedakah in shuls, perform a very great mitzvah by providing a crucial service. They help us give tzedakah, and “Gadol hame’aseh yoser min ha’oseh,” one who causes others to do a mitzvah is greater than one who performs the mitzvah himself.

However, it is inappropriate and unacceptable for them to do so during the times of Birchas Kriyas Shema, the blessings before and after the Shema, chazaras hashatz, during the chazzan’s repetition of the Amidah, or during Kriyas HaTorah, the reading of the Torah.

In many shuls, there are takanos, regulations, instituted by the rabbonim, that tzedakah should be collected up to Birchas Kriyas Shema and after chazaras hashatz, but not in between, since collecting during that time would be disturbing the kavanah, concentration, of the congregants at a time when kavanah is crucial.

There were Gedolei Yisroel, great sages, who would put down money prior to davening for the gabo’ei tzedakah to collect, thereby fulfilling the mitzvah of tzedakah without being disturbed. (Halacha2go #267)

The Right Attitude when Giving Tzedakah

The mitzvah of giving tzedakah should be done in good spirits and besever panim yafos (with a smiling countenance), besimchah (with happiness). Certainly not with an unhappy face, which is a transgression of the mitzvah of “Velo yeira levavcha besitcha lo” (Do not let your heart feel bad when you give him). Moreover, it is a grave prohibition to yell at a poor person.

It says that the Arizal would give tzedakah besimchah gedolah (with great joy). The Midrash tells us that we get a special s’char (reward) for saying kind words to the poor person when we give them tzedakah; “Ki biglal hadavar hazeh yevarechecha Hashem Elokecha” (Because of this Hashem will bless you). The use of the word “hadavar” connotes speaking—Hashem blesses us specifically for our kind words. In fact, if we can’t give money, we should be mefayes bidevarim, say kind, comforting words, and show empathy to the poor person by smiling, as well as indicate that we very much regret that we are unable to give them tzedakah this time. (Halacha2go #281*)

Gomar Belibo:

If a person made a mental, even non-verbal, commitment to give tzedakah, this is called, gomar bleibo, and he is obligated to fulfill that commitment.

A common problem that could be caused by this, is that if a person made such a commitment, but the meshulach disappeared from his sight or he can’t get hold of the gabbai tzedakah he made this non verbal pledge to.

The solution is to always make these commitments bli neder, or to make a point that these commitments are made in a way that is not a final decision, rather more theoretical. Thus avoiding any Sha’alos and problems. (Based on Halacha2go #40)

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* References and Marei Mekomos are available for this Halacha on the websites.

Please note that these halachos apply in general situations. In unique circumstances, a different halacha may apply. If you are unsure whether the halacha applies to your particular situation, please consult a Rov.

For more Halachos log onto www.Halacha2Go.com and www.AskTheRav.com

Box:

Once, when I was in Vienna, I entered a shul at night and put some money in the pushkah. A yungerman came over to me, actual a “feiner yungerman”, and told me: “How is it that you are doing this? It says in kisvei ha’Arizal that tzedakah should be given by day and not at night?”

Later when I was by my father-in-law, the Rebbe in Warsaw and told him of the “psak” (rebuke) I received. The Rebbe answered me by saying, “He probably doesn’t even give by daytime…”

(Motzei Shabbos Vayeshev 5718)