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Does anyone here know the Halacha regarding accepting/giving Tzedaka while you still have possessions that can be sold?
I ask because silver is (almost) at its 30 year high, and I would think it might be a good time to sell if you need the money. Most silver people have is Heirloom (such as Candlesticks, or Chassuna presents), and people don’t want to sell it if they can avoid it. Collecting from others is a way to keep these possessions.
Does this person have the right to do so? In a similar idea, a person has the right to keep their tools needed to work, such as plumber’s tools, and they are protected even from a Ba’al Chov.
(I really don’t know, and am looking for sources, not Boich S’varas).
Thanks,
G@W
That is a very interesting question. On the flip side, goyim do it all the time. They will sell whatever is necessary or take it to a pawn shop and try to retrieve it when they have the funds. Are we truly so attached to OUR possessions or is it more than that? Is it the need to hang on because as Yiddin OUR things are always taken from us? Or is it the sentiment that we attach to it vis a vis an heirloom piece that was the babba’s of the Zeide’s or is it just the value that we hang on to?
I think that certain things we hold on to are definitely for the sentiment. Many of us have candlesticks that our Babas brought from Europe. While they may be very valuable monetarily, their senitmental value is probably far greater in most cases. I would think that a family going through hard times should not have to relinquish certain family heirlooms. Other possessions however can and should be disposed of if one badly needs the funds. I would have no problem selling my engagement ring because it is “modern” but I would never sell my late mother’s ring because the diamond in it is one of 5 that my zaida brought from Russia.
But then that goes back to the original OP, if that were the case and we had that heirloom piece is it OK to accept tzedaka (not meaning you c”v) if one possessed something of true value? Or would it be necessary for that item to be used as collateral for the monies received?
I would have no problem borrowing money before taking tzedaka. I would sell almost everything I have rather than take tzedaka.
However, if it were a small hump, it wouldn’t make sense to sell something irreplacable or for very little in order to avoid the tzedaka. If I had to take it, I would repay the money as soon as possible.
I’m conflicted.
SJS, I get that so GAW, what is the Halacha in such a case?
What are we talking about here? The people collecting from Israel so their kid can have surgery for $100k? You want they should sell their leichter and collect 99.5k? Who says they didn’t?
The shleppers in front of the bakery on 13th Ave.?
What is the stereotypical person who is collecting tzedaka and should sell his silver and you think he didn’t.
No one is talking in stereotypes so lets not get heated again here, let’s just talk about a general halachic question. So where are all the Rabbis and why aren’t they chiming in on this one? In these hard economic times it is a very good question. When times are good we collect things when times are bad should we sell “everything” before accepting tzedaka? What is the obligation on the part of the person in need?
I was in a difficult position when I was collecting money for one particular child that I had sent to rehab. I made the suggestion to the mother on ways that she herself could raise money for her child while I was busy making phone calls and sending out letters. She was very good at a particular activity and I suggested that other women would love to do what she did, and that she could charge for her services and start a group. Then she could send this money to the rehab place. She looked at me like I was nuts and said “You expect ME to pay for this?”. I almost lost it. Here I was losing sleep over her child, worrying that they were going to throw the kid out of rehab if we didn’t come up with the funds and she wasn’t willing to do her part, she not only wanted me to do all the work, but she really expected others to foot the bill.
So yes, I would really be interested in hearing the answer to this question.
arie275, I think it is quite hypocritical for you to attack others on other threads for citing halacha (you don’t like to hear) on issues discussed in the coffee room, while at the same time you are soliciting other posters (over here) to state the halacha on an issue you do want to hear. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. There is nothing wrong with anyone ever citing halachas on any issues discussed in the coffee room. Period.
I think the difference is that GAW is generally intellectually and halachically honest when he says “I learned that the halacha is XYZ, but I know its not as clear cut as that.”
GAW acknowledges that there are halachic viewpoints so it makes sense to actually listen to his “this is what I hold by” halachic standpoint.
See Yoreh Deiye 253:1
I’m more interested in “Sam’s” source that proves I am not interested in Halacha.
You’ve been yelling at people on other threads to shut up whenever they cite halacha — telling them they cannot quote halacha and that they should only ask a LOR and not post here. Hence the hypocrisy you’ve demonstrated.
SR, prove it. Show me where I told ANYONE to “shut up”! I said they can’t pasken for anyone else and that everyone should ask their own RAV, which others have said as well. So prove that I said otherwise.
GAW
Regardless of the obligation of the poor person to sell his objects, there’s a much bigger obligation on everyone in Klal Yisroel to not allow a fellow Jew to get to the point where he is in poverty. One should discretely find ways to support those who are in trouble. Help them get jobs…donate towards their salary (if they really aren’t that qualified, so you arrange with the employer to pay towards his salary…) if you own a grocery store, extend him credit or say “there’s a special” on this stuff and give it to him at cost…
When its noygeiya l’mase of course you need to ask your LOR, but otherwise why should people not discuss halacha.
WIY:
YOU SHOULD BE BLESSED!!
Chas V’shalom anyone should reach such desperation all because the community allowed things to reach such a point.
deiyezooger, people read into things in order to get tzihitzt and make nasty comments. They choose to believe what they want to believe rather than actually take a minute to understand the truth and read and reread the post to understand the intent and the actual meaning. Better to dan l’kaf zchus than to assume the worst. No one ever said that people shouldn’t discuss halacha.
2756 sorry if I ofended you, thet was not my intention. BTW I love the way you wrote “tzihitzt”.
deiyezooger, thanks I do appreciate that!
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