JERUSALEM (VINnews) — During a question and answer session which took place Wednesday night with Rabbi Bentzion Mutzafi, a prominent Sephardi posek, he was asked about giving charity to beggars.
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The woman who asked said that she tries to be tight on expenses and to maintain caution in spending her husband’s hard-earned money. However her husband gives money to every beggar and buys things for others who promise to return them and sometimes forget to. She asked whether her husband is obligated to give to beggars.
Rabbi Mutzafi responded that “99% of those who beg for money are not paupers and don’t use the money, they have ‘hoarding syndrome’ and like ants gathering food, they wish to accumulate money for themselves.”
Rabbi Mutzafi added that “more than two thirds of them use the money for alcohol, drugs and other evil vices, may G-d save us from them. It is forbidden to give them any money.”
As someone who was for a time connected to a vaad that checks out meshulochim that come to the USA, I can say that over 50%, but definitely not 99%, are fake. It is difficult for the average individual to discern who is real and who is fake,
There was one well known tzedaka endorsed that was endorsed by many gedolim, but in reality received about 98% of its funding from the Israeli government. Should this organization really be a priority of yours?
Once Erev Yom Kippur, I was looking at the Pushkas deciding for which to give my tzdukah, and old sweet yid saw that I’m undecided, he said “you don’t want hashem to look in you and decide if you are with it or not, when you ask him for something you just want him to give it without considering if you are worth it”
his point was not of course to give your money for someone u know is going to buy drugs or put them into his savings etc. but rather not to over judge.
And this is a chiddush? Give money to organizations that vet individuals and give to individuals. You can’t vet for yourself. Remember all those callers that have a readymade charity organization that has a PO Box on 16th Avenue are fakes.
This is a shalom bais issue . Even though the rabbi is right , it probably wont change the husbands behavior .
Oh boy can’t wait to see the non sense that will be said. But unfortunately he’s correct
How can he generalize?
To be fair, I think this is subjective and is neither here nor there
The classic case is a yerushami collecting for hachnasas kalah. Are they swimming in dough? No . Can they somehow survive just Ike the non yerushalmi in kollel marrying off kids ? Yes. It’s certainly not the level of hachnasas kalah in Europe where orphans wouldn’t get married till there is enough money and that often destroyed chances of marriage.
But then again the whole concept of being poor today is so different . People are no longer dying in the streets from starvation even when they are poor
How did he do his research on this subject?
Seems like he means the guys hanging out on Rabbi Akiva Street. A shekel from each person that stops to contribute makes a nice daily bundle. If they need it – we fargin, but if not…
It does say “kol haposheit yad..” and it’s only a shekel or two..
Food for thought.
So there are no people living in poverty?
I had to look it up on Wikipedia. Commandment 476.
Deut. 15:7 — Not to withhold charity from the poor
Wow. Hot button topic! I also wonder about those who go door to door and say they are making a wedding. How do they pay for an airline ticket when they don’t have the money to make a chasanah? Are they the only one collecting or do they have their whole American family that lives here to collect for them? Some say they need to pay rent or they don’t have food stamps but there are many places that give out food. Two for sure in Boro Park not including Shomer Shabbos on 53rd st.
there are many charlitans out there but I have never seen nor heard of beggars spending money on alcohol or drugs.
Hate to say it but there are professional collectors. Go to the Kotel and the same guys are there every day. For years! That’s his ‘job’.
But to be stingy over a few Shekel?? I’d rather be Daan L’Kav Zchus.
And hopefully after 120 Hashem will be Daan L’Kav Zchus to me.
But giving serious money? You must do your due diligence.
Every country the issue needs to evaluated
There is a mitzva to give tzedaka and a prohibition to with hold.
Not sure who this Rabbi is going against tora and encouraging people to refrain from a mitzva and he is also stealing from poor people.
One cannot question daas torah