Against Poverty- From the Torah to Secular Judaism 35
QUESTION: Reuben has taken care of services and tzedakah for many years pro bono; now a group wishes to assume this role. Must he surrender it?
ANSWER: The patterns fixed through the years is to remain in place; the new group cannot assume these responsibilities.~~(Ginat Veradim, Yoreh Deah 3:4)
Jacob Reischer(1661-1733), Worms and Metz
QUESTION: A dying man left a portion of his estate for the ransoming of captives; just then the bubonic plague struck and many families needed help desperately. Could the funds be transferred to this cause?
ANSWER: The most ancient source dealing with this matter, the Talmud (B.B.B. 8a), stated clearly that the redemption of captives took precedence over everything else, as captives were liable to suffer hunger, lack of clothing, as well as disease, in addition to humiliation, so the high priority of ransoming them is clear.
Yet we should understand that this was a statement from a time when the surrounding world was generally friendly and only the lawless kidnaped. Now we face the situation in which Jews have been blamed for the plague and the entire community is captive in its sealed ghettoes and lack even food. These victims, including those who have fled and hidden in fear of their neighbors, can turn to no one for food. They face the same situation as captives. The conditions are sufficiently similar to permit the use of these funds for this purpose.
(Shevut Yaakov 2.104)
QUESTION: A son found himself in the following