Re: Are synagogue dues charity?
Gil Student (Gil_Student@ZRC.com)
1 Nov 96 8:40:42
I just joined the group so pardon me if I'm repeating what has already been
said. There is a school of thought among poskim that Ma'aser K'safim
(tithe) is a strong custom in memory of Ma'aser Ani which was given as part
of the seven year ma'aser cycle. Based on this, these poskim insist that
ma'aser money only be given to benefit the poor. Not to shuls, schools, or
even to buy books for learning Torah. However, I heard from Rav Hershel
Schachter that because a percentage of yeshiva tuitions go to benefit
scholarships for poor families, that percentage of your tuition, if you can
determine it, can be counted as ma'aser. This logic probably would also
apply to income taxes although it is probably impossible to determine what,
if any, percentage of your taxes go to benefit poor Jewish families.
Gil Student
GStudent@ZRC.com