Tzeddakah

HomeJewish LifeTzeddakah
14 Jan 0Comments 0Likes

Charitable Help From HMRC

Dear Rabbi Simon, I have a question regarding ma’aser. In the UK under the Gift Aid one can claim for the tax back on any eligible giving. I opened an Achisomoch account that automatically claims the tax benefit on my behalf, enabling me to effectively give more to tzedakah (in the case of eligible charities registered in the UK). My…

13 Aug 0Comments 0Likes

Accepting Charity & the World to Come

Dear Rabbi Simon, Shalom. I have a question. Does accepting money or other benefits from the [Israeli] government, in regards to making Aliyah, reduce my portion in the World to Come? Also does accepting tzedakah in general, when I have no money, reduce my portion, if I don’t actually need the tzedakah because my essential needs are provided by the…

18 Sep 0Comments 0Likes

Terumah and Ma’aser

Dear Rabbi Simon I received a notice today from the London Beth Din that mentioned the process for separating terumah and ma’aser. I have the following questions: The notice did not mention using an actual coin. Isn’t the coin part of the process? Assuming a coin is required for ma’aser sheni, I have seen it said that we should throw the…

22 Feb 0Comments 0Likes

Ma’aser Questions

Dear Rabbi Simon, I have a couple of ma’aser [charity tithe] questions if you don’t mind helping me with, please. My brother gave me £100 as a birthday present recently. Do I need to deduct ma’aser from this? Also, is one able to give a donation from a salary that one has not been paid yet? As in, may I…

02 Feb 0Comments 0Likes

Ma’aser Question

Dear Rabbi Simon I have a ma’aser question if you don’t mind please. If one makes a donation to a charity on the occasion of a simcha or birthday and to mark this the charity sends out a certificate to the person in whose honour the donation has been made, can this donation still be counted towards ma’aser money, even…

17 Feb 0Comments 0Likes

Ma’aser Questions

Dear Rabbi Simon I hope you are well. I have a couple of ma’aser question if you don’t mind. I recently donated to the Hendon Evening Beis’ charity campaign and I just wanted to check that this donation would be included as ma’aser money? Also, is one able to give a donation from a salary that one has not been paid yet? As…

30 Dec 0Comments 0Likes

The Power to Bless

Hello Rabbi Simon I am very excited about completing my conversion process through immersing in the mikveh this week. I type that last sentence with so much hakaras hatov [gratitude] that my appointment is going ahead despite the contagion. I was wondering about what I should have in mind during immersion. I understand that the day of conversion is a very…

26 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Ma’aser Calculation

Dear Rabbi Simon, As your responses are always so helpful I hope you don’t mind if I ask another question regarding ma’aser. I had always thought that one was obligated to take 10% from one’s salary and that is the contribution of ma’aser to make. e.g. say from the £1000 that entered your bank account each month, it would be…

22 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Tzedakah Questions

Dear Rabbi Simon, I have some ma’aser queries that I would be grateful if you could help me with. I made a complaint to two separate companies, due to a defect in their products, which made them unusable. (Although the amounts involved are modest, I want to be exacting in the mitzvah, as well as to establish the halakhic principles…

Questions & Answers
this week

Questions and Answers

Ask the Rabbi: Quinoa on Pesach
Dear Rabbi Simon,
Where do you stand on quinoa (and the kitniyot ban) for Pesach?
Many thanks,
Tzippy
***
Dear Tzippy,
In line with other American authorities, I am in favour of quinoa. Although I reject completely the voices (mostly from Israel) seeking to abolish the ban on kitniyot entirely, IMO we do not need to include in the prohibition pseudo-grains that were unknown in the Old World until modern times. Best to buy with a Pesach hechsher though, to be free of any possible wheat contamination.
Rabbi Rashi Simon
Events / Calendar

Upcoming Events

Mon, 03/9 8:00 PM
Talmud with Rashi via Zoom
Mon, 03/16 8:00 PM
Talmud with Rashi via Zoom
Mon, 03/23 8:00 PM
Talmud with Rashi via Zoom
Mon, 04/13 8:00 PM
Talmud with Rashi via Zoom
Mon, 04/20 8:00 PM
Talmud with Rashi via Zoom