Reciting a berachah before giving tzedakah

Hi,

"We do not recite a berachah for a mitzvah which is not entirely in the control of the person performing the mitzvah, because perhaps the other party will not cooperate, and the deed will be void. Examples include tithes [of produce] for the needy, lending to the indigent, giving tzedakah, and giving gifts to a freed eved.

אין מברכין על מצוה שאינה תלויה כולה ביד העושה. מפני שאפשר שלא יתרצה בה חברו ונמצא מעשה מתבטל. כגון מתנות עניים והלואת הדלים ונתינת צדקה והענקה וכיוצא בהם.

(Responsum of Rashba 1:18)

פתקא טבא,
Mordechai

The power of tzedakah

Hi,

[Preface: The biblical root שקפ, to gaze, is generally associated with Divine punishment.]

“People who tithe their produce are powerful, in that they convert a curse to a blessing. They recite the prayer to Gd, ‘השקיפה [gaze down] from Your sacred dwelling, from the Heavens, and bless Your nation.’”

(Midrash, Shemot Rabbah 41:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Gd wants us to make others happy

Hi,

Preface: Every three years, the cycle of tithes for Israeli produce is completed. At that point the Jew is instructed to come to the beit hamikdash [Temple in Jerusalem] and declare that he has properly distributed all of the tithes. As part of this, he makes the following declaration: “I have done everything that You have commanded me. [Devarim 26:14]”

On this, the midrash makes a remarkable statement:


“’I have done everything that You have commanded me.’ This means: I have been happy, and I have made others happy.”

(Sifri to Parshat Ki Tavo 7)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Tu b'Shevat

Hi,

Tu b'Shevat [celebrated on Monday February 9 this year] is the equivalent of January 1 in the Jewish tithing calendar for Israeli produce - it is the first day of the financial year. Therefore, tree-fruit which blossoms before Tu b'Shevat is tithed as part of one tithing cycle, and tree-fruit which blossoms after Tu b'Shevat is tithed in a different cycle.

To celebrate this day, and to express gratitude for the edible fruit of our trees, many Jews eat fruit on Tu b'Shevat.

(Mishneh Berurah 131:31)

[How do the different tithing cycles work? I'm glad you asked:
Each year's produce is tithed differently. In all non-shemitah years, 2% goes to the Kohanim and 10% to the Levites, but in certain years another 10% is brought to Yerushalayim to be eaten there, and in other years that last 10% is given to the needy.
Also: one may not tithe one year's produce using another year's produce.
Aren't you glad you asked?]

Have a great day,
Mordechai