Asking For A Friend - Timely Issues. Timeless Torah.
Asking For A Friend - Timely Issues. Timeless Torah.
Kehillas Federation
#11: Tzedokah (II): The Way We Give Has Changed - For Better or Worse? With Rabbi Zimmerman
56 minutes Posted Apr 26, 2026 at 6:30 pm.
Intro & series overview
Difference: tzedokah (reactive) vs Ma'aser (proactive)
Affordability & basic needs (poskim discussion)
Rambam, Shulchan Aruch, Vilna Gaon on status/limits
Hazaka/makirah and long-term support
Hakarat hatov (gratitude) and prioritization
Spousal decisions & whose money rules
School fees vs. charity; tuition as obligation vs donation
Education obligations (v’shinan/v’limachem) and tutors
Sponsor: AAC mention
Vetting collectors; small vs large gifts
Small donations (matanah mu’attas) & token amounts
Priorities: Talmud Torah, shul/mikvah, poor; communal obligations
Recommendation: personal priority spreadsheet
Yisachar/Support for Torah learners discussion
Fundraising anecdotes & approach to donors
Fundraiser commissions and admin-cost norms
New charities vs established ones — assess like investments
Parents on holiday & unpaid school debts guidance
Debtors should prioritize repayment over giving maaser
School enrollment pledges: private vs communal difference
Closing reflection on communal chesed and lasting value
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Show notes
Tzedakah today looks very different to how it once did. But has that change improved the way we give, or complicated it?
This episode addresses real-world dilemmas: If your child has a negative experience with an institution, can you redirect your support elsewhere? Do you need to verify every collector, or can you rely on communal trust? Is giving smaller amounts to many causes a practical solution, or does it dilute the impact of the mitzvah?
The discussion also tackles prioritisation, how to choose between multiple urgent needs and whether family always comes first. Are fundraising commissions a necessary part of modern charity, or a distortion of its purpose?
A clear and nuanced look at how tzedakah is evolving and how to navigate it responsibly.
 
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