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Questions tagged [tzedakah-charity]

The mitzvah of charity, generally giving to the poor, In Hebrew צדקה, literally meaning "justice or righteousness."

12 votes
4 answers
253 views

Matanos L'Evyonim

What constitutes a poor person? If someone is a student, and they are living off of loans without a current income, are they considered poor and could one fulfill the mitzvah of Matanos L'Evyonim by ...
nameloc's user avatar
  • 189
12 votes
1 answer
144 views

Giving money to a poor tinok she-nishba

Bob is an observant Jew. Jim is completely secular Jew, who has never been observant. Jim is poor, and has trouble making ends meet most of the time. Is Bob allowed to give Jim tzedakah, knowing ...
Jake's user avatar
  • 1,422
12 votes
1 answer
262 views

Supporting new charities

There are myriad charities out there. If a community has multiple Shuls, schools, Mikvaoth, food pantries, and גמ"חs, and new entities open up fulfilling the same role(s), and the new entities' ...
Seth J's user avatar
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11 votes
2 answers
292 views

Obligation of community to support those who study Torah?

Is the community obligated to support financially those who study Torah all day long? Is one allowed to request such support from the community based on his choice to study full-day and not make a ...
zr.'s user avatar
  • 243
11 votes
1 answer
148 views

Scrutinising the legitimacy/cause of a charity collector

In many synagogues that I frequent charity collectors come round collecting money for themselves, families or other causes. They often have a certificate declaring the legitimacy of their cause (...
bondonk's user avatar
  • 10.4k
11 votes
2 answers
1k views

What is a "Rabbi Meir Bal Hanes" tzedaka?

I have seen several Tzedaka organizations calling themselves something like "Colel Chabad (or Kupas Ha'Ir) Rabbi Meir Baal Haness Charity". What does it mean that it is a "Rabbi Meir Baal Haness" ...
ertert3terte's user avatar
  • 40.6k
11 votes
2 answers
199 views

Is there a halachic time limit for sending an organization its charity box money?

Many Jewish organizations distribute tzedaka (charity) boxes. A few that I know tell people, "collect the money and at some point, empty the money and mail us a check." Let's say someone leaves this ...
DanF's user avatar
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10 votes
3 answers
3k views

Is donating blood a mitzvah?

Is donating blood a mitzvah? Are there contemporary sources? I am looking for an answer from a posek, rav, etc.
yisrael's user avatar
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10 votes
2 answers
321 views

Giving charity to someone about whom the giver knows nothing?

I often pass by a Jewish store where a person is standing outside asking for tzedaka/charity. Call me cynical but I have no way of knowing A)if the person is really poor, B) if the person is Jewish ...
rachav's user avatar
  • 535
10 votes
1 answer
1k views

Source that those without a genuine need soliciting charity is a good thing

Judaism 101 says (and I have heard it many times): Judaism acknowledges that many people who ask for charity have no genuine need. In fact, the Talmud suggests that this is a good thing: if all ...
Yishai's user avatar
  • 32.1k
10 votes
2 answers
283 views

Allowed to help prepare / serve "milk and meat" meal in homeless shelter?

Imagine a case in which one is invited to volunteer with a group that is preparing and serving a meal at a homeless shelter. The group has decided on a menu that includes milk and meat together in ...
Desert Star's user avatar
  • 3,403
10 votes
2 answers
311 views

Give ma'aser on money that you didn't make yet?

Can I give ma'aser on money that I didn't earn yet but I know I will be earning in the future?
N123's user avatar
  • 2,893
10 votes
1 answer
208 views

Can one take any money offered to him?

Is a tzedaka allowed to take money from people who earn their money in inappropriate way (say, the person worked on Shabbos, stole, cheated, etc.) If not, is this a chumra or a halacha? Please ...
der groise brech's user avatar
10 votes
1 answer
300 views

Are Jews allowed to contribute to the reconstruction of the Paris cathedral?

I assume most of you have already heard about the sad events that happened yesterday in France. One of the main symbols of Paris, a functioning cathedral caught on fire and caused huge damage to the ...
Kazi bácsi's user avatar
  • 7,774
9 votes
2 answers
5k views

Why do we give tzedakah money to someone to pass along in Israel?

Reuven is planning a trip to Israel. Shimon, knowing this, gives Reuven money for tzedakah with the expectation that Reuven will distribute it when he gets to Israel. Reuven and Shimon both ...
Monica Cellio's user avatar

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