As many of our supporters use this time to give charity and finalize their ma’aser kesafim (monetary tithes) accounts, we think you will agree that these emails are timely and a great introduction to the new year. We will be adding a new video to the top of this post each day for the next 4 days, so be sure to keep checking back. (Scroll down to view earlier ones).

Video #4: Israel or Teaneck?

Video #3: All to one, or one to all?

Video #2: Charity Shmarity – Who says I must give?

Video #1: Priorities in Giving

Torah Live conducted a video interview with Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits about common ma’aser, charity, questions. Below are some of the questions addressed. The answers will be released as part of our upcoming Charity DVD.

1. The Sages teach that the poor man does more for the rich man than the rich man does for the poor (Vayikra Rabbah 34:8). How are we to understand this?
2. God has no lack of resources. He could easily have created a world of universal wealth, wherein everyone was wealthy and no one was poor. Why did He not do so?
3. David from NJ sent e-mail: “Last night two pleasant gentlemen came; I realized that they had both come just a couple of weeks ago for the same causes; I guess they were making a return trip through the community. I politely pointed out that I had recently given and chose not to give a second time. Is this wrong?”
4. Again from David: “Many men come with letters from doctors and rabbis. Not infrequently the expiration date on the note has passed. It is rude to point it out to the petitioner? And it is wrong to refuse to give for this reason? I’d feel crummy to do this, but then why do our communities feel the need to include these letters if there’s not some kind of contractual basis to it?”
5. Maimonides writes that whoever sees a poor man ask for help and does not give him charity, transgresses a negative commandment as it says: You shall not harden your heart or close your hand against your destitute brother (Hilchos Matnas Aniyim 7:2).
   1. Does this apply to mail solicitations, or flyers?
   2. How does it apply to a busy thoroughfare, or during davening, when one is sometimes besieged by a throng of collectors?
6. Do I have to answer the door to the charity collector in the middle of spending time with my family?
7. The Talmud (Bava Basra 9a) quotes Rabbi Elazar as saying, “Greater is the person who influences others to give charity more than the one who gives themselves.” What is the rationale behind this?
8. Someone defaulted on a loan I gave them. Can I deduct the amount from ma’aser?
9. I sold my apartment to buy a bigger one. Do I need to give ma’aser on the proceeds of the sale?
10. I saw a charity collector in shacharis and intended to give him, but he never came over to me. Do I need to find him and give him the money?
11. I have been giving a certain organization money for 3 years running. Does this now become a chazaka, or can I switch to give other causes?
12. If I used to give x dollars a year to tzedakah, but because my income has halved, I now give half x, should I halve my former donations to each tzedakah, or may I maintain the former level to favored causes and give nothing or nominal sums to the rest?
13. I have outstanding debts. Do I need to give ma’aser?
14. Can a doctor who sees poor patients for free count his time as a charity donation? The same goes for any professional service, such as tutoring.

“Inspiring and entertaining at the same time! Mind stimulating!” Yoni Burstyn, Chicago

“Exciting and clear” – Binyomin S

Torah Live’s second Yom Iyun, held at Yeshivat Mevaseret Zion, was a smashing success. (First Yom Iyun post here.) Boys spent the morning studying many inspirational ideas related to charity and then enjoyed an in-depth multimedia presentation on the topic. The event made a lasting impression on the students, many of whom took upon themselves to give ten percent to charity. To book the Torah Live Yom Iyun experience for your school, write to yomiyun@torahlive.co.il

Comments from the students:

“It was just 100%! Never realized how intricate the topic was.”

“Loved the audio visual.”

“Entertaining and informative.”

Today was one of the most thrilling days of my whole life and marks a new era for Torah Live. Although we’ve given the charity presentation [click for video overview] many times with incredible results, this was the first time participants had the opportunity to really live the topic by first spending the morning learning related sources. You can see the results for yourself by clicking on the play button in the above video. Why not let your students enjoy the Yom Iyun experience? They will thank you forever. Satisfaction guaranteed! Write to yomiyun@torahlive.co.il

Comments from the students:

“It’s very hands-on and gives a real life appreciation and clarfies the concepts.” – Avi Silver

“I thought it was incredibly interesting as well as practical” – Teddy Freedman

It was a true privilege to give the charity presentation today to such a distinguished group of people as the avreichim in the Mir. One of the beauties of the presentation is the ease with which it can be tweaked to suit each audiences needs, and today’s event was no exception. Yet another version was created – the 11th version to date!

Several people have already e mailed us asking for the excel maaser file – click the link to download it. [ MAASER Spreadsheet 10a ] If you want a tzedaka app for your iPhone, you can get one here.

“The speaker and graphics were phenomenal!”

“Great Shiur! Worth a trip from anywhere. Very captivating. How can it be improved? More time! – Zevi Rothschild

Rabbi Roth had the privilege of giving the charity presentation to SEED UK who are here this week on an Israel trip. Rabbi Malcolm Herman, SEED’s Programmes Director, said: “Your very enlightening event inspired our group to think more seriously about their charity obligations and whet our appetites for more. Excellently presented.”

Yeshivas Lev Aharon hosted Torah Live for a special Chanukah event.  Rabbi Roth presented the maaser / charity lecture under the heading of “What to do with all the chanuka gelt!” Did the students learn and enjoy? You bet! In their own words, “The presentation was fun, interactive and informative!”

Rabbi Roth’s presentation in Manchester on charity-giving was enthusiastically received and warmly reviewed in the Jewish Tribune. The Tribune said,

In his shiur billed as “an interactive audio-visual presentation”, Rabbi Roth, who is also a lecturer at Jerusalem’s Ohr Somayach, really did interact with his audience [....] This, accompanied by an original use of audio-visual technology, provided them with an entertaining and informative insight into the topic.

To read the full article, click here (pdf).

Rabbi Roth interviews Daniel Schloss, CFO of Aish HaTorah, to learn how he uses Palm to keep track of ma’aser kesafim account. For more on Rabbi Schloss, visit his page at Aish.com.

Rabbi Dan Roth made the debut presentation at Yesod, a division of Ohr Somayach, called “Making the Big Bucks” on the laws of giving maaser (giving a tithe to charity). Click this link for a video message from Rabbi Shalom Adelman, Mashgiach Ruchani of Yesod. [Update: Read more about the origins of Torah Live in this Jewish Press article.]