Using Pesach charity funds to repay Purim charity debts
This question and answer were automatically translated using our trained AI and have not yet been reviewed by a qualified rabbi. Please treat this translation with caution.
Go to original →
Question
On Purim, the synagogue gabbai collected matanot la'evyonim for needy people in the community. Because he was busy with a family celebration, and based on the amount collected for Purim last year, he distributed 8,000 shekels to the needy, assuming that this amount would be raised (most of the money is donated through "Nedarim Plus"). In practice, only 2,800 shekels were collected.
In the community kimcha depischa appeal, which is based on the "Tova VeBracha" fund (the community participates with one third of the sum approved by the fund for the needy families that were approved), the community was supposed to bring about 16,000 shekels, but in practice about 25,000 shekels were collected.
The question: may the gabbai take from the money collected for kimcha depischa in order to reimburse himself for the sum he distributed in the Purim appeal, or at least part of it, since he did not intend that the expenditure would be from his own money? The question is from the strict halachic standpoint, not from the perspective of going beyond the letter of the law.
In the community kimcha depischa appeal, which is based on the "Tova VeBracha" fund (the community participates with one third of the sum approved by the fund for the needy families that were approved), the community was supposed to bring about 16,000 shekels, but in practice about 25,000 shekels were collected.
The question: may the gabbai take from the money collected for kimcha depischa in order to reimburse himself for the sum he distributed in the Purim appeal, or at least part of it, since he did not intend that the expenditure would be from his own money? The question is from the strict halachic standpoint, not from the perspective of going beyond the letter of the law.
Answer
Shalom u’vracha.
It is permitted to take from the surplus Pesach charity funds in order to cover the outstanding Purim charity obligations.
Comments
Have an additional question on this topic or need clarification? Leave your comment below. (Please note that the comment will not be published but will be sent directly to the answering Rabbi for review and a private response)
