he wished to give a Bible to his brother’s sons and once more stated that the remainder of his property was to go to his wife and the poor. We can see here a desire to protect his wife, as the will allowed for more than the ketubah, so the basic amount could not be challenged. The belated gift of the Bible provided the problem. Should the amount now reduced include the amount to be given to the poor?
ANSWER: At issue was the matter of kinyan for the poor. The court usually seized property designated for the poor immediately, though normally a promise is not binding until delivery, but gifts to the poor were in a special category; they were sacred and needed to be protected immediately from seizure by the government. Although the wording provided for the poor generally and not a specific person, R. Meshulam ruled that this was to be treated as permanent assignment.(Mueller, ed., Responsa)
QUESTION: A man promised funds for charity upon the recovery of his mother; he then discovered that his mother had made a similar promise. Is he obligated to pay?
ANSWER: He must pay as he made the promise without any reservations.(Responsa, Yoreh Deah 185)
QUESTION: The previous inquirer was persistent and asked whether he could give it to the poor of a community other than Merseburg .
ANSWER: No; he is obligated to his home community. (Responsa, Yoreh Deah 186)