18 Lessons
Charity and Lending Money 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?
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions 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?
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions 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?
Charity and Lending Money 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.
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions 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?
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions 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?
Charity and Lending Money Givers Keepers
A powerful story reminding us what we give away is what we keep forever.
Charity and Lending Money 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?
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions 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)?
Charity and Lending Money Tidbits of Interest
Some Aspects of the Halachos of Ribbis
Some Aspects of the Halachos of Ribbis
Behar 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?
