CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK
Sefer Ha’mitzvos Ha’Katzar (The concise book of mitzvos)
By the Chofetz Chaim

This book lists the Torah mitzvos that can be observed today

First Section – the Positive Commandments

38. It is a positive commandment to give charity to the poor of Israel

A poor person that is a relative comes before all others when giving charity. A poor person in one’s house comes before the poor in one’s city. The poor in one’s city is before the poor in another city as it says in Devarim (Deuteronomy) 15:11, “To your brother, to your poor person, and to the needy person in your land.”

Anyone that sees a poor person asking for money and he hides his eyes so he does not give him money, has transgressed a positive and negative commandment (as we will see with G-d’s help, Negative Commandment 62). This is a very big sin and the person is called a scoundrel, a sinner, and a wicked person.

TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK