Laws of Tzedakah - Levels of Obligation
The Absolute Minimum. Every Jew must give every year the minimal amount of one third (1) of a shekel (a biblical coin used for Torah obligations; 5 shekel for redeeming a firstborn son; 1/2 of one shekel for the yearly donation in the month of Adar to purchase all the public sacrifices in the Bais Hamikdosh). The exact value of a shekel in our currency fluctuates with the ever changing price of silver. For our purposes, without any drastic changes, one can assume that five dollars is more than a full shekel leaving the minimal yearly amount to be around $1.70. Even a poor person who receives charity must stretch his budget to give this annual amount. Even a person who owes money to others and is therefore not allowed to give large amounts to charity, must give this minimal amount annually.
Giving when asked. In Tehillim (עד-כא), it says: “Do not turn away the oppressed in shame.” The Poskim learn from this a halachic obligation to never turn away a needy person who asks, without a minimal donation (2). This minimal amount must be something that is not shaming him, e.g giving a penny to someone at the door. Even if one has different plans of to whom to give or has already given his full yearly allocation, he still must give something, unless he really doesn’t have what to give. Even then he should politely apologize in a way that he conveys the message that he would want to give if he could (3).
Able to give more. Technically, one must provide a needy person with all his needs. However, one may give a meaningful amount which, when combined with other donations, can properly help the needy one. If there are no other people to ask, or others cannot provide enough, the person who is asked and can afford it, should give the needed amount (except if it more than 1/5 of his assets). If the needy person could go around collecting but is ashamed to do so, the Poskim argue if one who can afford it must give the whole amount or not. One who is lenient has whom to rely upon (4).
Giving a tenth. The custom (according to some Poskim an obligation) to give a tenth of one’s earnings to tzedakah, will be explained in the coming weeks.
Giving a fifth. The preferred amount of tzedakah to give is a fifth of one’s earnings if he can afford it, yet it is not an obligation. The Ramba”m holds (5) that if person knows about destitute people in his city who are not fed or clothed properly, giving a fifth becomes an obligation. This has awesome implications because nowadays when the facts of such poverty are known to all, in one’s own city and from around the world, 1/5 becomes an obligation to all those that can afford it. Those who are lenient rely on the words of the Birkei Yosef (6) who proves that others argue on the Rambam.
(1) יו"ד רפט:ב (2) יו"ד רמט:ד (3) רמב"ם מתנת עניים י:ה (4) יו"ד רנ:א (5) חפץ חיים בס' אהבת חסד ב:יו:ד (6) יו"ד רמ"ט
Weekly Chizuk # 41
One should plan some self improvement or new hidur mitzvah for the coming new year. Looking back over the 40 suggestions of chizuk until now is a good way to pick an activity to do so that it becomes a firm habit by Rosh Hashanah.
Comentários