I have done my own study on the tithe and find that the tithe goes to the tribe of Levi and it wasn't about money but about feeding God's house. I would like to hear from a Rabbi on their thoughts on tithing.
| Author | Comment | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Pamela 1965 |
question on tithing |
Lead | |
|
Today my cousin and I got into a heated argument on tithing. She told me if I am not tithing to the church, I am robbing God. She then quoted Malchai 3: 6-12.
I disagreed with her. I know that TV preachers preach about tithing and how God will really bless you if you give them ten percent of your paycheck before
taxes are taken out but I really feel they have miss the boat on this. It is like it is some magical formula in being rich. Just give ten percent and you will
have so much money. I have a hard time believing this. I believe they are twisting the scriptures to take money from people.
I have done my own study on the tithe and find that the tithe goes to the tribe of Levi and it wasn't about money but about feeding God's house. I would like to hear from a Rabbi on their thoughts on tithing. |
|||
Rabbi Yisroel |
|||
|
The tithes mentioned in the Torah in relation to the Priests and the Levites were indeed of produce, although it is accepted that there is a Mitzva to give
between a tenth and a fifth of one's income (after taxes) to charity (just as Jacob pledged in Genesis 28:22). People may indeed give some of this money to
their Synagogue, if it needs it, or distribute it among various charities or to poor people. They may also use it to support someone who is in full-time Torah
study, or to build and support religious schools, metc.
The laws of tithing do not apply to non-Jews. However, non-Jews are obligated to follow in G-d's ways, just as Jews are. So just as G-d is kind and charitable to His creatures, so we (Jews and non-Jews alike) should be kind to our fellow creatures (especially humans). Thus non-Jews should also give to charity, but that's doesn't mean they have to give it to any particular religious organisation. It is also true to say that one will never lose out by giving charity; G-d will reward the charitable person, possibly in this world, but most certainly in the next world. I believe it was one of the Rothschilds who, when asked how much he was worth, consulted a note book wherein was listed the amounts he had given to charity. His response was the total of those amounts. |
|||
Pamela 1965 |
|||
|
Thank you so much for answering my question. I have another question. If someone is going to fall short in paying their bills, should they still tithe or if
they should fall short in providing for their children, should they tithe? Should the poor be put on a guilt trip if they are not able to tithe?
|
|||
Rabbi Daniel |
|||
|
Tithing can come from the net, after the bills are paid.
The academic said, "Why don't you put him in an institution, have a life of your own?" The Jewish mother responded, "What meaning would my life have?" |
|||
Rabbi Yisroel |
|||
Pamela 1965 wrote:The saying "charity begins at home" is very much a part of the Jewish Law on giving to charity. So if one's own children are, G-d forbid, in need of food, clothing etc., then one's first priority is to them and one's ma'aser [tithed] money should be utilised accordingly. |
|||
Pamela 1965 |
|||
|
Thank you so much for explaining this to me. There are a lot people out there that would still lay the guilt trip on a person to still tithe even if that means
you can't put food on the table.
|
|||
SearchinMyRoots |
Other Ways? | ||
|
Is it not true that you can "tithe" in other ways? Maybe it doesn't refer to tithing specifically, but more towards charity, I'm not sure and
that is why I am asking.
What I was referring to is "donating ones time" and things of that sort. Not necessarily money. |
|||
Rabbi Yisroel |
|||
SearchinMyRoots wrote: That, I would say, comes under the Mitzva of G'millut Chassodim - doing acts of kindness. |
|||
SearchinMyRoots |
|||
|
Thank you for the clarification.
|
|||
Rabbi Daniel |
|||
|
Last generations leader of American Jewry, RAbbi Moshe Feinstien, zt'l, did say it just like that.
Every Jew needs tithe their time and help bring others Jews home to Judaism. [That was aside from financial tithes.] The academic said, "Why don't you put him in an institution, have a life of your own?" The Jewish mother responded, "What meaning would my life have?" |
|||
