Tithe Money for Vacation
Question
Dear Rabbi! My parents went through some difficult times, and now we, all their children, want to pay for their vacation. Can we use tithe money for this?
Answer
Dear …!
If your parents are poor, then [according to the letter of the law] you could help them using your tithe money. But it states in the Talmud: “may a curse come upon one who feeds his father the poor man’s tithe”. The reason for that is that it is demeaning to one’s parents.
Therefore, if it’s within children’s means to give this gift to the parents using their own money, they should not use tithe money for this. But if the children are poor as well, then it’s permitted, moreover, it’s a mitzvah to help their parents using tithe money.
Source
Tractate Kiddushin 32a