Reply To: Tzedaka for the Rich

DY:

Reread the comment, and notice any more “obligation”. 1) The response was to it being allegedly an “obligation” to decline, not merely “praiseworthy”. 2) The response (“any more”) was that it is the same praiseworthiness for the formerly rich fellow to decline tzedaka as for the traditionally poor fellow to do so.

2qwerty:

Even a poor fellow often can make do without tzedaka. It indeed may be a hardship*, but unless he literally has no bread and water or shelter (in which case I agree with you) he can survive.

* much as it is to a formerly rich fellow to live far below the standards he is used to – which is the reason for the aforementioned halacha.