Look at it from the ani’s point of view. If he’s addicted to smoking, he’s not going to stop just because he needs to go around collecting tzedaka. He could have made sure not to spend any of his own money on cigarettes and get them by begging, but he can’t do that since we’ve agreed it would be asur to give him cigarettes. Klal Yisrael are rachmanim b’nei rachmanim- give the poor guy money for his family.
Menu