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The Shulchan Aruch · Yoreh De'ah

יורה דעה רמ״טYoreh De'ah 249

Siman 249 of 402 in Yoreh De'ah — 16 se'ifim

הלכות צדקהCharity· siman 249

Se’if 1א׳

שִׁעוּר נְתִינָתָהּ, אִם יָדוֹ מַשֶּׂגֶת, יִתֵּן כְּפִי צֹרֶךְ הָעֲנִיִּים. וְאִם אֵין יָדוֹ מַשֶּׂגֶת כָּל כָּךְ, יִתֵּן עַד חֹמֶשׁ נְכָסָיו, מִצְוָה מִן הַמֻּבְחָר; וְאֶחָד מֵעֲשָׂרָה, מִדָּה בֵּינוֹנִית; פָּחוֹת מִכָּאן, עַיִן רָעָה. וְחֹמֶשׁ זֶה שֶׁאָמְרוּ, שָׁנָה רִאשׁוֹנָה מֵהַקֶּרֶן, מִכָּאן וָאֵילָךְ חֹמֶשׁ שֶׁהִרְוִיחַ בְּכָל שָׁנָה. הַגָּה: וְאַל יְבַזְבֵּז אָדָם יוֹתֵר מֵחֹמֶשׁ, שֶׁלֹּא יִצְטָרֵךְ לַבְּרִיּוֹת. (בֵּית יוֹסֵף בְּשֵׁם הַגְּמָרָא פ' נַעֲרָה שֶׁנִּתְפַּתְּתָה) וְדַוְקָא כָּל יְמֵי חַיָּיו, אֲבָל בִּשְׁעַת מוֹתוֹ יָכוֹל אָדָם לִתֵּן צְדָקָה כָּל מַה שֶּׁיִּרְצֶה (ג"ז שָׁם פ' מְצִיאַת הָאִשָּׁה וּמַיְתֵי לָהּ רִי"ף וְרֹא"שׁ וְרַ"ן וּמָרְדְּכַי). וְאֵין לַעֲשׂוֹת מִמַּעֲשֵׁר שֶׁלּוֹ דְּבַר מִצְוָה, כְּגוֹן נֵרוֹת לְבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת אוֹ שְׁאָר דְּבַר מִצְוָה, רַק יִתְּנֶנּוּ לַעֲנִיִּים. (מהרי"ל הל' רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה).

The amount one should give [is as follows]. If one can afford it, he should give according to the needs of the poor. If one can not afford so much, he should give up to a fifth of his wealth - that is the best [way of performing] the mitzvah. A medium way is to give a tenth. Less than that is stingy. Giving a fifth that was referred to, means from one's overall assets the first year, and from then on giving one's profits annually. Rema: A person should not give more than a fifth so he should not be dependent on others.(Beit Yosef) This is during his lifetime, but when he is about to pass away he can give as much charity as he wishes. A person should not use his charity to perform mitzvot such as [giving] candles to the synagogue etc., but he should give it to the poor.

Se’if 2ב׳

לְעוֹלָם לֹא יִמְנַע אָדָם עַצְמוֹ פָּחוֹת מִשְּׁלִישִׁית הַשֶּׁקֶל לְשָׁנָה, וְאִם נָתַן פָּחוֹת מִזֶּה, לֹא קִיֵּם מִצְוַת צְדָקָה.

A person should never give less than a third of a shekel annually. If he gives less than that he has not fulfilled the commandment of charity.

Se’if 3ג׳

צָרִיךְ לִתֵּן הַצְּדָקָה בְּסֵבֶר פָּנִים יָפוֹת, בְּשִׂמְחָה וּבְטוּב לֵבָב, וּמִתְאוֹנֵן עִם הֶעָנִי בְּצַעֲרוֹ וּמְדַבֵּר לוֹ דִּבְרֵי תַּנְחוּמִין. וְאִם נְתָנָהּ בְּפָנִים זוֹעֲפוֹת וְרָעוֹת, הִפְסִיד זְכוּתוֹ.

Charity should be given with a pleasant countenance, with happiness and good-heartedly, sympathizing with the poor person over his plight and speaking comforting words to him. If someone gives with an angry and scowling face he has lost his merit.

…and 11 more se'ifim in this siman.

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Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah — Torat Emet 357 edition, via Sefaria — public domain

English: Sefaria Community Translation — CC0

English rendered from the Hebrew for this app — The Gematria's own rendering program. A rendering of the words, not a ruling; practical halacha is learned with a rav