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I saw this question posted on a blog and i was wondering about what the ywn coffeeroom community’s reaction would be:
How can we justify purchasing a second shirt with money that can be sent to a homeless family in Japan? How can we buy a cell phone with money that can be sent to a starving child in Africa? How can we purchase a second car with money that can be sent to a poverty-stricken widow down the block?
and if I may add, How can a family go to a hotel for pesach when there are so many families that can’t make pesach at home?
Being we’re not responsible for the Japanese or Africans, your question would only be pertinent if you would ask about the poor in Israel or those suffering in Klal Yisroel.
This used to bother me when I was about to indulge in something special that was by no stretch a necessity.
I think that if I was perfect, I’d probably forgo a lot of conveniences in my life and put the money to better use by giving it to tzeddakah.
Well, I’m not perfect (yet!) so I started giving 20% maaser instead of the 10% I used to give. I’m not a level where I can live with the bare necesities only, but at least I demand of myself the same generosity when it comes to Tzeddakah.
The best part of getting paid, is that I can cut more maaser checks. I get tremendous pleasure out of it, especially since I know that this isn’t gonna last once I get married and hafta pay rent and food and whatnot.
Since there are always going to be people somewhere in the world in need of charity, are you proposing to say that any discretionary spending by anyone is bad and that no one should ever spend a discretionary cent?
I don’t think that’s the case. Chazal gave us guidelines for charity — up to 20%. Beyond that, we need not give — it may be nice to, but you don’t need to feel any guilt for not giving beyond that point.
The Wolf
because a person is not mechuyav to feed the world. a person is mechuyav to give a certain amount and ONLY allowed to give a certain amount. past that and its no longer our problem…past our hishtadlus its out of our hands.
Who decides what one can have and not have. Does one have to live the “simple life” if they work hard all day and do well financially. Perhaps I should work just enough to cover my expenses and thats it. I think the answer is that most people give back (I know I do) to the community in many ways. Some with time, money and other resources. Why cant I enjoy Pesach in a hotel if I work hard all year and help various Tzedaka and give of my time to multiple organziations.
There is not enough to go around and the ones that do well are always looked at to give more time and more money. Some do plenty already and want to have some for themselves to enjoy.
Wolf, are you suggesting that in fact if one does not give the maximum amount- 20%, then he should feel guilty?
No, I am not. That amount is optional. Now, please answer my question. Are you proposing to say that one should not engage in any discretionary spending (i.e. a second shirt, to use your example) as long as there are needy people anywhere in the world?
And if not, then what, exactly, are the guidelines you are proposing?
The Wolf
“How can we justify purchasing a second shirt with money that can be sent to a homeless family in Japan?”
This seems a bit extreme.
You have to be levelheaded and realistic. There is always going to be someone somewhere suffering. If you are honest with yourself that you are a charitable person and that you genuinely care about the world community and you do what you can when you can, I don’t think the burden of guilt is yours to carry around that you aren’t doing enough.
Everyone has their own definition of what is considered ‘doing enough’ but that is for each individual to decide.
(Wolf, nice to see you on the logical side of the argument 😉
THINKING, you make a good point with the widow and Japan, but Africa????
Hashem chooses the haves and have nots. You choose who you wish to help and those that others should help. Everyone helps someone.
Please stay out of the Pesach issue. People go to hotels for their own reasons, that doesn’t mean they DON”T give tezedaka or do chesed for people who can’t afford to make pesach. So that was totally unfair!!!
I think the OP has a valid point. I don’t think most people give 10% of their earnings to Tzedaka. This would include all money coming in, not just what you put “on the books”!
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