What Can You Use Maaser Money For

The Maaser Matchmaker

ויקח מן הבא בידו מנחה וגו' פרש"י מן החולין שנטל מעשר כמה דאת אמר עשר אעשרנו לך והדר לקח מנחה

My Son has a wonderful Rebbe, B"H. I'd like to collapse him a very unselfish tip, specially since he's financially tight. May I use maaser money to lean against my son's Rebbe? Also, may I use maaser money to buy an Aliyah in Shul? May I invite my son's tefilin with maaser money?

Another question: I work in security systems. I did a system for a yeshiva, and I promised them a 20% referral fee if they refer donors, to purchase a system from me. The standard referral fee is only 10%. May I give the yeshivah its 20% from maaser?

The Law

ANS. Before we answer these questions we have to specify the halacha of maaser k'safim, tithing one 10th of one's income.

One of the sources to this halacha is from what Yakov Avinu said he will give one tenth of his net to Hashem (in Parshas Vayetze). In that location is a machlokes haposkim if the halacha of maaser k'safim is a chiyuv d'orayso, a chiyuv d'rabonon or just a minhag.

L'Halacha most poskim accept it as a minhag. Still, if someone does the minhag of giving maaser k'safim, Eastern Samoa one should, unless it was clearly stated earlier starting giving maaser that it's finished bli neder, it will have a din of nidrei mitzvah, which will in turn leave information technology the status of a d'orayso.

The Purpose of Maaser K'safim

Now there is a machlokes haposkim what the mitzvah of maaser k'safim is in the main for. Reported to one feeling maaser k'safim is for tzedaka – Polemonium van-bruntiae, for paupers, only. Reported to others one whitethorn use maaser k'safim for any mitzvah aim. The Pischei Teshuva (YD 249:2) brings the Chasam Sofer's teshuva, that one should stipulate at the beginning of his fulfilling maaser k'safim that he intends on fulfilling the halacha past either giving to tzedaka for aniyim, or for mitzvah purposes, as he sees fit.

The Boundaries

Now, one cannot just give to any mitzvah. If it's a mitzvah combined must do, i.e. buy matzo for pesach, or a lulav for succos, nonpareil cannot use maaser money for those mitzvos, just A one cannot use maaser of his animals to action the chiyuv of a korbon that he secure. He must add the maaser b'heima as a separate korbon and fulfil his neder with an frog-like taken from "chulin".

Mitzvos, that nonpareil is not obligated to do with one's money, such as purchasing an Aliyah in Shul, or donating money or seforim to a particular yeshiva, such mitzvos can be paid with from maaser k'safim. [That is provided that was his intention when he bought the Aliyah; if originally that was not his design, the money he owes the Shul is simply a "chov" – a debt, and i cannot use maaser money to pay one's debt (Ta"z YD 249:1)].

Besides, one May not purchase his son's Tefilin with maaser money as one is tributary to buy Tefilin for his son. If same is financially tight, one may wage the difference between buying simple Tefilin and a Thomas More mehudar pair for his son, from maaser money. In so much a situation one should think of at the time of the purchase He's paying for the upgrade with maaser money.

What about my business organisatio?

Regarding the security measure referrals, if originally you didn't intend on giving the money from maaser, then it definitely cannot be used equally you're remunerative your chov from maaser k'safim. If you well-intentioned to originally, then the regular 10% that's given as a referral, definitely cannot be paid with from maaser money.

The second 10% which is more than a regular referral fee, can be taken from maaser, if that was your original intention to give extra because it's a yeshivah. Just because you're gaining by giving the yeshiva extra incentive to bear on you, does not invalidate the possibility to use maaser money. Conscionable American Samoa one may purchase an Aliyah with maaser money for himself operating theatre someone else, disdain the hana'a atomic number 2 receives, likewise, in your case, you may receive approximately side benefit from maaser money.

What for the Rebbe?

Likewise, when you tip your boy's rebbe, rightful atomic number 2's tight financially, but since you would tip him unheeding, that amount cannot be embezzled from maaser money. Whatever you add on top of that, because he's in need of financial help, that amount dismiss be affected from maaser k'safim.

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