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Aruch HaShulchan, Laws of Tzedakah 251:3, 5

 

ערוך השולחן, יורה דעה רנא:ג, ה

Original Text:

כתב הטור שם רב סעדיה גאון חייב אדם להקדים פרנסתו לכל אדם ואינו חייב לתת צדקה עד שיהיה לו פרנסתו שנאמר וחי אחיך עמך, חייך קודמין לחיי אחיך. האיש שמרויח פרנסתו כבעל בית חשוב שאוכל כראוי לחם ובשר ותבשילין ולובש ומכסה א"ע כראוי וודאי דחייב בצדקה מעשר או חומש מפרנסתו.

Translation:

The Tur writes in the name of Rav Saadia Gaon: “A person’s own livelihood takes precedence over that of anyone else, and one is not required to give tzedakah until he [or she] has acquired a livelihood, as it says: “And your fellow will live with you” (Leviticus 25:36), meaning your life takes priority over that of your fellow’s. A person who earns a living, like that of an important land owner, that allows him to eat bread, meat and spices and dress nicely, should certainly give a tenth or a fifth of his or her income.
[AJWS translation]

Suggested Discussion Questions:

1. According to this text, what constitutes affluence?
2. How does this text map onto our society? In what ways are we all living in affluence?
3. What does it mean to take precedence over? How might we define such priorities today?

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Related Texts:
Aruch HaShulchan, Laws of Tzedakah 251:3, 5
Related Sourcesheets:Urban Tzedakah Values, Rabbi Aaron Levy (Part 1 of 2), Concentric Circles of Tzedekah

Submitted By

Sarah Margles

Comments on this Text

What the text means:

  • What do you think this hierarchy is based on?
  • What do you think this source is saying about family?  About physical proximity?

What the text means to me:

  • Do you agree with this order of priority?
  • Was it similar or different to the list of communities you made earlier?
  • By Hillel at 06/29/2009 - 10:43