“Rabbi Elazar said: ‘During the time of the Beis Hamikdash, each person would give their halfShekel and receive an atonement. Now that there is no Beis Hamikdash, only the Tzedakah atones, [feeding the poor takes the place of ‘feeding’ the Mizbeiach (א “מהרש ;(if one refuses to give charity, gentiles will take his money from him, (. ט דף ב”ב’ גמ) “Providing his Needs” 2. The Mitzva of Tzedakah is to give the poor man his needs (e.g., food, clothing, utensils etc.), based on what he is used to )א”ס נ”ר סימן ד”יו .)The one approached by the poor person does not have the responsibility to fully support him. Rather, he should inform the public of his plight, and everyone should jointly. provide for his needs. )שם א”רמ) 3. If the pauper is a Torah scholar, one must give is according to his honor. ) א”סי ג”רנ’ סי ע”שו) Some understand there is an obligation to provide generously to allow him to learn comfortably )פמ”ג או”ח סי’ קנ”ג א”א סקכ ”ד, בצדקה ומשפט פ”ג הערה ה ) Tzedaka for Mitzva Purposes 4. The Mitzva of Tzedaka includes providing the poor with money to use for Mitzvos (e.g., Matza), even Rabbinical Mitzvos (e.g., four cups of wine for the Seder )פסחים ערבי ריש משנה .) However, .)ליקוטי שו”ת חת”ס סי’ כ ” ט( precedence takes, food lacks who pauper a 5. If the poor man was used to performing Mitzvos scrupulously (e.g.,buying a beautiful Esrog or special Matzos), it is a Mitzva to help him continue to do so despite the cost. However, it is preferable for the pauper to decline such help )ד הערה ג”פ ומשפט צדקה ,)as it is best to lower his Mitzva standards rather than relying on others. (א”ס ה”רנ’ סי ע”שו) Gabbai Tzedaka (Charity Collector) 6. Each community is responsible to appoint Gabbaim to collect from the public and distribute to שו”ע סי’ ר”נ ס”ה).begging go to having from poor the sparing thus ), שו”ע סי’ רנ”ו ס”א ) poor the 7. The Mitzva of Tzedakah includes urging others to give )ב”ב הלוי חיים רבינו שיעורי” – )Greater is the 8. This includes all who assist in organizing a fundraising event, as they are generating more Tzedakah. The same applies to donating gifts for a raffle or covering the costs of the food, music, etc. 9. A Gabbai may not give precedence to his relatives. He should view every poor person the same )שו” ע יו”ד סי’ רנ”ז ס”י) .way 10. A Gabbai may not put someone in a situation where he may donate more than he can afford out of embarrassment. A Gabbai may not collect from this type of person. Hashem will punish a )שו” ע סי’ רמ”ח ס”ז.

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