Maaser Kesafim

How Much of a Tzedaka Preference to Relatives?

I learned that one should prioritize giving tzedaka to relatives over others. I give a nice amount of tzedaka, almost exclusively out of the family (which also has a few poor people), which I feel is more altruistic. Can you explain this halacha and give some halachic guidelines?

Giving Ma’aser Years Later

Over the years, I have received cash gifts for birthdays, bar mitzva, etc. and never gave ma’aser kesafim (=mk) from them. I would like to do so now but do not remember the exact amounts I received. What should I do?

Accidentally Paying Back Early

the Citigroup “bank” mistakenly paid some $900 mil. to Revlon’s creditors before the loans were due. A few big creditors refused to return the money. A court ruled that since the creditors took the money (they were owed) in good faith, they need not return it. Would the halachic ruling be the same?

Change of Policy

Do we have to allow beggers from out of the city to come and collect donations in our city? r\Rav Neventzal answers with a story from the Gr"a.

Is Rounding Up Ribbit?

I was told that the "Paybox" app that allows sending money enables payments only of full shekalim. So when my wife and many others use it to repay a friend who bought something at the grocery that has an agurot element, they must round the numbers. Is rounding up a problem of ribbit?

Backing Out of a Pledge to a Jewish School

May one to decide not to go through with his donation pledge to a Jewish school? If so, must he take steps such as hatarat nedarim?

The Bankrupt Borrower

Confronting Corona – a Halachic Proposal to Consider

The Kosher Way to Collect a Loan

Although it is a very big mitzvah to lend money, some people are reluctant to do so because they know of loans that proved difficult to collect. Must you lend someone money if you are not sure it will ever be repaid? What do you do if you lent money to someone who seemed very honest and sincere, but now that it comes time to repay, he informs you that he is penniless? What may you do and what may you not do to collect your money? How can you guarantee that you get your money back?

Using Tzedaka Funds for Grandchildren’s Education

Can one use ma’aser money to pay for their grandchildren’s education? Is there a distinction between grandsons and granddaughters or Judaic studies and general studies? If it is permitted, may I putting money in a 529 fund (which earmarks savings for education, primarily post-secondary in return for tax breaks for the donor in the US)?

Tidbits of Interest

Some Aspects of the Halachos of Ribbis

Some Aspects of the Halachos of Ribbis

Raiding the Pushka and Related Questions

Returning the Donations After the Recipient Died

Inheritance Without Ma’aser Kesafim

Paying a Poor Person’s Guaranteed Loan from Ma’aser Money

The Bankrupt Borrower

“I loaned someone money, and I did not hassle him for payment when he told me that things were tough. Recently, I contacted him to ask if he is in any position to pay back. He replied that he was forced into bankruptcy and thereby absolved all his debts. Does he, indeed, no longer owe me for the loan?