Prayer and Blessings
Is There a Blessing for Separating Maaser Kesafim?
Maaser Kesafim: How Much to Give, What It Can Be Used For, and Whether a Blessing Is Recited
Question
B.S.D.
Shalom,
I would like, with Hashem’s help, to begin giving maaser kesafim, and I wanted to clarify a number of things.
A. Does the amount of maaser need to be exactly 10 percent of one’s salary? For example, if a person earns 5,000 shekels, would he give 500?
B. I am a student and work part-time. Most of the time my salary is about 3,500 shekels, and I spend almost all of it on household expenses, rent, food, a car, and so on. Should I calculate maaser from the amount I bring in, or from the amount left to me after my expenses? (At times, nothing is left.)
C. Can I give the maaser for any purpose? For example, to donate to people who settle the land in outposts, to support the poor, or to various charities and organizations, or those that are involved in bringing Jews closer to Torah? Can I give my maaser money to a different place each month?
D. When separating maaser, is there a specific blessing I need to recite, or only have in mind?
Answer
Shalom and blessings,
A. One must give at least 10 percent. It is also permitted to give more than that (Mahari"l, siman 54; Shevet Halevi, vol. 5, siman 133, ot 5). However, since some say one should be careful not to add to a tenth, because whoever adds detracts, since maaser has a secret and a foundation (Sheyarei Knesset HaGedolah, Yoreh Deah, siman 249, ot 1), it is better to give exactly one tenth as maaser, and to give the rest as tzedakah. (Ahavat Chesed, part 2, chapter 19, section 3, in a note.)
B. Ideally, one may deduct from the salary all expenses connected to the work, such as workplace rent, travel, and the like, and only afterward separate maaser (see Pri Chadash, Yoreh Deah, siman 249, sk"v; Shevet Halevi, vol. 5, siman 133, ot 4).
However, the poskim disagree as to whether one may separate maaser after deducting living expenses that are not connected to the work, and the custom is in accordance with the more stringent view. Only if a person is under financial pressure and is unable to conduct himself by giving maaser from all his salary or profits should he stipulate in advance that he will give maaser only after deducting living expenses - and then he may do so (see Shevet Halevi there, and Yechaveh Daat, vol. 3, siman 76).
C. One may give maaser money for any mitzvah purpose that is not obligatory upon him. However, if it is obligatory upon him, then no. For example, one may not buy tefillin for oneself with maaser money, since one is obligated in this mitzvah (see Be’er HaGolah, Yoreh Deah, siman 249, ot 5).
One may give maaser money to a different place each month.
D. There is no blessing for separating maaser kesafim.
B’rakha ve-hatzlacha,
Hillel Meirs
