Reply To: Maaser Kesafim / Tzedaka � The 20% Ceiling

chesedname-

The gemara in Shabbos has Reb Yishmoel ben Rebbe Yosse attributing the wealth of those in Eretz Yisroel to the maaser they give. He attribute the wealth of those in Bavel to their honoring of the Torah. Those in other countries who merit wealth, he attributes to the honor they give Shabbos.

A couple of points:

1) He says maaser, not maaser kesafim.

2) He doesn’t say maaser brings wealth exclusively in Eretz Yisroel, kavod haTorah only in Bavel, and kavod Shabbos only in other countries. He is just giving this as the reason for rich peoples wealth in those countries.

“look at halachos sefarim, where we paskin it’s mostly a minhag…“

The first link in the prior post mentions that many poskim say that maaser kesafim started as a minhag, and gives mekoros.

He continues “However, for one who already has the custom to give Maaser, it is already a strong obligation for him/her , and is like a Neder (biblical oath) which is much more severe than a D’Rabanan. (In Shu”t Sheilas Ya’avetz Vol. 1 Siman 6 he writes that one who gave Maaser even once (!) it is already like a Neder and one must continue doing so always)“

And:

“One who now gives Ma’aser based on the aforementioned fact that his parents gave, can not be Matir Neder (absolve him/herself of this obligation) as he/she is doing so based on “Al Titosh Toras Imecha” and not based on a Neder. (Based on Sefer Ahavas Chesed from the Chofetz Chaim)

2) According to many Poskim, today’s days (B’Zman HaZeh) when we do not practice “Ma’aser Tvuah- tithing of grain”, it is obligatory on each and every individual to practice “Ma’aser Kesafim- tithing of income” (Shla HaKadosh Chulin Inyan masa Umatan B’Emunah, Netziv in He’emek Shaila Parshas Korach Sheilta 132:1, Derech Emunah from Rav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita Hilchos Matnas aniyim Perek 7: Sif Katan 73 in the name of the Chazon Ish. This was also the opinion of the Steipler (in Kraina D’Igrasa Vol. 1 Os 189) and Rav Eliezer Menachem Man Shach Zatzal (Michtavim U’Maamarim Vol. 3 page 78) who always stressed to all who asked them the extreme importance of giving Ma’aser) as well as many other contemporary Poskim .See also Igros Moshe Yoreh Deah Vol. 1 Siman 143)“

The origin may well have been minhag, but the above rabonim are saying it’s a chiyuv nowadays.

One must ask their own rav about halacha lemaiseh.