Torah and Jewish Idea > Torah and Jewish Idea

Need advice from a learned Jew re: the 'poor'

(1/8) > >>

newman:
Torah requires us to tithe 10% of our income to the poor.....correct?

This law was given before big government, income taxes and social security. If I pay on average 30% of my income in federal taxes and the federal gov't spends 25% of all revenue on social security, have I not allready contributed 7.5% in effect?

Secondly, who should we consider poor? An unemployed/ invalided person in Australia is still able to eat three meals/day, and live under a roof with hot/cold running water and adequately cloth themselves. An unemployed/invalided family with 3 kids get a higher income from social security than they would if they worked at an entry level job. Nobody can be in dire straights unless it is by choice. Should we not expect some measure of personal responsibility here? The biblical injunction is to cloth the poor.....not buy them televisions or booze. If someone is homeless because they blew their income on alcohol or gambling, Are we obligated to give them money and subsidize their stupidity?

If someone with a proper Hebrew perspective can address the above points it would help me greatly.

jdl4ever:
Well, it's not required, but highly encouraged for Jews to give 10% of your income to charity (not necessarily to the poor, but to any charity), since it is a Jewish custom that started with our forefather Abraham who gave 10% of his income to Malcheitzedek, who was a righteous gentile priest of G-d and all religious Jews follow this custom and give 10% of their income to charity.  If you are poor yourself, then you just give as much as you can afford.  As far as Gentiles are concerned, I don't think it is required since it is not one of the 7 Noahide laws, but is a good thing to do and pleasing to G-d.  To me it is logical that the 10% is calculated after taxes, you give 10% of the money that you keep.  It is up to you to give it to whichever Charity you want to so you can leave out the drug addicts. 

Sarah:
Sorry, newman, i hope you don't mind if i join in with asking questions... :-X :P

How about if you want to calculate a percentage to give to the poor but a lot of your income is invested, would the invested wealth be included in the calculation?

Is it a sin not to give this charity?

jdl4ever:
This question is too advanced for me, Lubab will have to answer this one. 

The only one I can answer is that it is not a sin if you don't give 10% of your income to charity.  But you should give at least some of your income to the poor or to charity.  Giving to the poor is required for Jews and is one of the commandments in the Bible.  As for Gentiles, I presume charity is highly encouraged to please G-d but is not required. 

Sarah:

--- Quote from: jdl4ever on July 18, 2007, 06:01:40 PM ---This question is too advanced for me, Lubab will have to answer this one. 

The only one I can answer is that it is not a sin if you don't give 10% of your income to charity.  But you should give at least some of your income to the poor or to charity.  Giving to the poor is required for Jews and is one of the commandments in the Bible.  As for Gentiles, I presume charity is highly encouraged to please G-d but is not required. 

--- End quote ---

Thank you.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page