Re: Are synagogue dues charity?

Jeffrey Smith (f901030k@bcfreenet.seflin.lib.fl.us)
Mon, 16 Sep 1996 22:54:02 -0400 (EDT)

It would appear to me that synagogue dues are most like the communal taxes
of earlier days, and should be treated as such. Ironically, contributions
to United Jewish Appeal and local Jewish Welfare Federations--which have
replaced the kehillot of earlier days to a great degree--are more securely
charitable contributions. I would not bother about what the IRS classifies
as charitable. Gentile law does not form halachic rulings, and classifing
charity according how it affects one's income tax is not appropriate.
Indeed, one can argue from the Mishnah that one should never take
charitable deductions. (Pirke Avot, I believe, states that charity with an
earthly reward is not true charity--my memory is hazy at the moment).

Jeffrey Smith f901030k@bcfreenet.seflin.lib.fl.us