Gifts for Needy Parents - From Maaser Money
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Question
Hello, my father-in-law and mother-in-law are in a difficult financial situation. My father-in-law does not want to accept money, but we have not encountered any problems with receiving products they need around the house (such as a menorah, challah cover, candlesticks for lighting candles). In the last four months, they need to replace the old holy library, but each month they do not have enough money left, and they go into overdraft. I would like to know if it is permissible to buy them a holy library from maaser money? Can we buy them holy books or anything related to holiness from maaser? We have no possibility to pay them from other money, otherwise, we would do so, this is our only option. As I mentioned, my father-in-law does not want to accept money, so we cannot give them the maaser as it is and need to find other solutions to help them.
Answer
Hello,
There is no problem using maaser money to buy anything that a poor person needs, even if it is not related to religious needs or a mitzvah.
On the other hand, items that are not a real necessity should not be purchased with maaser money. Therefore, you need to assess whether a new library is a 'necessity' or just a nice gift.
It might be better if you use the maaser money to buy food products or other essential items.
As you emphasized in the question, using maaser money for parents is considered degrading, and it is only permitted when the children have no other means to provide for their parents' needs from their own funds.
Source
Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah, Siman 240, Se'if 5
And there is an opinion that he is only obligated to give him what he is required to give for charity. Nevertheless, if he has the means, a curse be upon one who supports his father from his charity funds.