Walter Jacob

QUESTION: A and B were sentenced to give money to charity. Each belongs to a different synagogue in the same town, one larger, one smaller. Must the fines be divided equally or in proportion to the membership?

ANSWER: Custom or communal agreement govern charitable fines. If there is no established custom and the community cannot reach an agreement the distribution is to be made according to the number of recipients in each synagogue. This is on the basis that all the poor of a town have equal claim on such a gift. If it had been allocated to two towns it would have been necessary to divide it equally, but as the two synagogues are in the same town, we do not do so.(Responsa Yoreh Deah 191)

Solomon B. Aderet(1235-1310), Spain QUESTION: When is a charitable pledge enforceable?

ANSWER: When one has said that one would give, it must be done according to the statement“Guard what comes out of your mouth and act according to it.” This does not apply if the property is not in his possession or stolen. If he said that he would give a certain amount to the poor, however, it must be given, even if that is not possible immediately, as this is a vow. If he makes a promise for a specific object— that it is to go to the poor of his city and the gabbaim responsible for charitable distribution are at hand, they force him to give.(Responsa 3:298)

QUESTION: May charitable contributions be accepted from women?

ANSWER: It is appropriate to accept small amounts as stated in the Talmud , as the husband expects his wife to make such donations, but not large amounts. This should be adjusted, however,