Author Topic: Judging Ma'aser Recipients.  (Read 4741 times)

Offline yehuda S

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Judging Ma'aser Recipients.
« on: March 27, 2014, 11:58:21 PM »
I have ma'aser money to distribute. There are people who I know are struggling financially and have even asked me for money. However, some of these people do not make wise financial decisions. Some enjoy luxuries that I wouldn't be able to afford myself and do not seem to be interested in seriously making their own money.

Is it it appropriate to judge those who ask for money or should one distribute ma'aser blindly to those who claim they need it?
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Offline AnonymousUser

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Re: Judging Ma'aser Recipients.
« Reply #1 on: March 28, 2014, 12:04:12 AM »
I have ma'aser money to distribute. There are people who I know are struggling financially and have even asked me for money. However, some of these people do not make wise financial decisions. Some enjoy luxuries that I wouldn't be able to afford myself and do not seem to be interested in seriously making their own money.

Is it it appropriate to judge those who ask for money or should one distribute ma'aser blindly to those who claim they need it?
What about די חסרונן?

Offline popcorn1508

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Re: Judging Ma'aser Recipients.
« Reply #2 on: March 28, 2014, 12:06:12 AM »
Here we go again...

Offline Achas Veachas

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Re: Judging Ma'aser Recipients.
« Reply #3 on: March 28, 2014, 12:08:35 AM »
Couldn't go to long without a yehuda_S thread :P

Interesting question, I was always taught to do your part and not judge (you don't always know everything that's going on) and then Hashem will try not to judge you (Midah Kneged Midah).


Offline Emkay

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Re: Judging Ma'aser Recipients.
« Reply #4 on: March 28, 2014, 12:08:36 AM »
I have ma'aser money to distribute. There are people who I know are struggling financially and have even asked me for money. However, some of these people do not make wise financial decisions. Some enjoy luxuries that I wouldn't be able to afford myself and do not seem to be interested in seriously making their own money.

Is it it appropriate to judge those who ask for money or should one distribute ma'aser blindly to those who claim they need it?
ask your LOR and stop stirring up controversy

Offline yehuda S

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Re: Judging Ma'aser Recipients.
« Reply #5 on: March 28, 2014, 12:12:42 AM »
ask your LOR and stop stirring up controversy

Please hit the ignore button and then get lost if you don't have anything kind to contribute.  :D
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Offline yehuda S

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Re: Judging Ma'aser Recipients.
« Reply #6 on: March 28, 2014, 12:15:03 AM »
Couldn't go to long without a yehuda_S thread :P

Interesting question, I was always taught to do your part and not judge (you don't always know everything that's going on) and then Hashem will try not to judge you (Midah Kneged Midah).

But are you yotze your chiyuv ma'aser? What about the people who really need it? And anyway, aren't you just encouraging people to continue being lazy?
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Offline yehuda S

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Re: Judging Ma'aser Recipients.
« Reply #7 on: March 28, 2014, 12:15:54 AM »
Work is what you do between vacations.

Offline Q274

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Re: Judging Ma'aser Recipients.
« Reply #8 on: March 28, 2014, 12:19:21 AM »
But are toyou yotze your chiyuv ma'aser? What about the people who really need it? And anyway, aren't you just encouraging people to continue being lazy?
Sort of like when people respond to your threads, they are encouraging y to continue to be pointlessly controversial.

Offline dudi

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Re: Judging Ma'aser Recipients.
« Reply #9 on: March 28, 2014, 12:20:09 AM »
English?
means that you have to give a ani tzdaka according to what he is used to.
If he eats a fat stake every night that is what you are supposed to give him

Offline PlatinumGuy

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Re: Judging Ma'aser Recipients.
« Reply #10 on: March 28, 2014, 12:21:36 AM »
There is an opinion in the Mishna (R Shimon, aficr we don't pasken that way), that even if someone has money in the bank, yet does not use it, there is a mitzva to give him tzedaka.

You might not understand, and I agree it's infuriating to work yourself to the bone to fund somebody living a higher and easier lifestyle than yourself, but sometimes that's what G-d wants from you. Here's a way to do tzedaka without the immediate return of satisfaction.

Ma'aser is a very abstract chiyuv and I'm sure most rabbis would be very lenient about what you can use it for. The main guidance we have in chazal about prioritizing is Anii Eirecha, if someone in your family has a need, or in your neighborhood, etc.
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים

Offline yehuda S

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Re: Judging Ma'aser Recipients.
« Reply #11 on: March 28, 2014, 12:22:12 AM »
means that you have to give a ani tzdaka according to what he is used to.
If he eats a fat stake every night that is what you are supposed to give him
I'm pretty sure that is only based on how he lived before he was poor. And I can't imagine that one person's luxury would come before another's basic needs.
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Offline Achas Veachas

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Re: Judging Ma'aser Recipients.
« Reply #12 on: March 28, 2014, 12:25:39 AM »
But are you yotze your chiyuv ma'aser? What about the people who really need it? And anyway, aren't you just encouraging people to continue being lazy?
Quote from: Bava Kama 16b
דרש רבא: מאי דכתיב: 'יהיו מוכשלים לפניך בעת אפך עשה בהם'? - אמר ירמיה לפני הקדוש ברוך הוא: "רבונו של עולם! אפילו בשעה שעושין צדקה - הכשילם בבני אדם שאינן מהוגנים כדי שלא יקבלו עליהן שכר
Seems like those are Cheshbonos Shamayim. You do your part and Hashem will do his..
« Last Edit: March 28, 2014, 12:45:03 AM by Achas Veachas »

Offline PlatinumGuy

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Re: Judging Ma'aser Recipients.
« Reply #13 on: March 28, 2014, 12:29:43 AM »
You do your part
That's up for debate. I know people that audit financials before they give.
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים

Offline yehuda S

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Re: Judging Ma'aser Recipients.
« Reply #14 on: March 28, 2014, 12:32:02 AM »
I may be the only one, but when a collector comes to and he has a pack of cigarettes in his shirt pocket I won't give him money. Why should I pay for him to kill himself?
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Offline Achas Veachas

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Re: Judging Ma'aser Recipients.
« Reply #15 on: March 28, 2014, 12:33:04 AM »
That's up for debate. I know people that audit financials before they give.
I guess it depends on how much you're giving. For the amount of Ma'aser I give it would not be worth it to go through the hassle :P

Offline dudi

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Re: Judging Ma'aser Recipients.
« Reply #16 on: March 28, 2014, 12:43:14 AM »
Two things I learned from my father is that if a guy is willing to come up to me and ask for money than he must be in need.
Second god is giving you schar for the tzdaka u do even if it turns out that its a fake bcs u gave it like u were supposed to

Offline Achas Veachas

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Re: Judging Ma'aser Recipients.
« Reply #17 on: March 28, 2014, 12:45:29 AM »

Second god is giving you schar for the tzdaka u do even if it turns out that its a fake bcs u gave it like u were supposed to
How does that fit with the Gemarah I quoted above?

Offline dudi

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Re: Judging Ma'aser Recipients.
« Reply #18 on: March 28, 2014, 12:47:33 AM »
How does that fit with the Gemarah I quoted above?
interesting I never learned it I'm gonna learn it tomorrow bli neder it seems to me like he is praying that god should take away their schar for tzdaka? Does that make sense? Need to learn it first

Offline ckmk47

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Re: Judging Ma'aser Recipients.
« Reply #19 on: March 28, 2014, 01:07:54 AM »
There are many needy people to whom you can give tzedoko.
Lemaase, yehuda S and anyone else can find enough people who are poor and trying. 

As far as a discussion goes. When people ask tzedoko door to door, I give more to people or causes that strike my fancy.  If a person seems sincere and seems to be trying, I give more.  If he has the attitude that I owe him to support him, I tend to give less.
To shelter myself from too much of this prejudice, I give to food bank- type organizations like Tomchei Shabbos.  They'll feed the nudnick who won't or can't get a job along with the working poor who are trying yet can't quite make it.  Because, lets face it, the nudnick's kids have to eat too.

As far as being asked for money from someone who won't spend  your money wisely.  You can respond less than generously.  On the other hand, this may be a nisoyon to work on. We're coming to the month of geula.  Leap away from the midos constraining you and reach for freedom from limiting your mitzvos.
My favorite cause: cssy.org