Use of Tzedaka/Maaser
Question
I’m not rich but I have masser. Am I allowed not to distribute tzeddaka immediately if I am saving it to sponsor a project for bikur cholim room? Am I allowed to use masser to write a Sefer Torah? Is giving tzeddaka to lomdei Torah and poor and takes priority over writing of a Seder Torah?
Answer
Shalom!
Thank you for your question.
You are permitted to use your tzedakah/maser money to sponsor bikkur cholim projects and to write a sefer Torah. It is important to note that if you use ma'aser money for writing a sefer Torah, it will not be considered as being mekaym the mitsvah "Mitsvat kesivat Sefer Torah".
Giving tzedakah to lomdei Torah who need support and the poor, is more of a priority even then to writing a Sefer Torah.
Here are some other rulings of our Rabbi, Rav Amram Fried with regard to Maaser.
Maaser Money can be used for:
1. Supporting poor Torah scholars this is the optimal way to give maser.
2. Poor people
3. The performance of mitzvot.
4. Refreshments in the synagogue or yeshiva
5. Tuition for children over bar/bat mitzva
6. One is not allowed to use ma’aser money to pay for something, even ritual items that one is obligated to pay for anyways.
It is worth mentioning that charity money, including “ma’aser money,” may be given to poor relatives, and this is indeed preferable since relatives come first.
Such relatives include (in order of preference) one’s parents, one’s adult children, one’s paternal brothers, one’s maternal brothers, and most any other relatives, as well. However, it is better to give up to half of the ma'aser to family but if the situation is very difficult one may give it all.
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