...Continued from previous week
1) One should not give Ma'aser to a poor person that is a "Rasha L'Hachis" (A Sinful person who does Aveiros and disregards the Torah to spite Hashem), even if he did this act only once [and didn't do Teshuva] (Psak of Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbac Zatzal based on Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 251:2)
If the poor person is a "Rasha L'Teavon" (Sinful person who does Aveiros for his own enjoyment, and not in spite) according to some Poskim he may be given Ma'aser, while others maintain that even to such a Rasha we shouldn't give. (See Shach and Taz to Shulchan Aruch ibid.)
All agree that a righteous poor person takes precedence over a sinful one. (See Rabbeinu Yonah to Pirkei Avos Perek 1 Mishna 2)
2) If one gave Tzedaka/Ma'aser to one who isn't deserving of it according to Halacha, he/she receives no heavenly reward for that Tzedaka. (See Talmud Bava Kama 15b. Also see Sefer Chasidim Siman 61)
Some Poskim even maintain that after giving Ma'aser to a non-deserving poor person, you haven't satisfied your obligation and must give additional money. (Sefer Hilchos Ma'aser Kesafim quoting Harav Elchanan Peretz Shlita in the Tzohar Torah journal Vol. 5 Page 137)
3) It is best to "spread the wealth" and give Ma'aser to many poor people, rather than give it all to one individual.
However, if by spreading it out [too much], none of the poor people will have enough to sustain themselves, it is indeed better to give to one [or 2] the amount they need to sustain themselves properly. (Based on the words of the Rambam in Pirkei Avos 3:15 who discusses this idea at length, not only from a Halachic point of view. See also Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 257:9 and Shach and Taz ibid. See also Igros Moshe Yoreh Deah Vol. 1 Siman 144)
4) One's own wedding expenses should not be taken from Ma'aser. Likewise, any expenses that accrue in the pursuit of finding a spouse (dating, dowries etc.) should not be taken from Ma'aser (Shu"t Beis Din Shel Shlomo Yoreh Deah Siman 1)
Wedding expenses for one’s children, as well as expenses of buying newlywed children a home, furniture, clothing may be taken from Ma'aser according to many Poskim, even if you have other money from where to pay these expenses. (Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal. However, see Shu"t Shevet Halevi Vol. 9 Siman 201 where he differentiates between a small dwelling and a larger one. See also Shu"t Tzitz Eliezer Vol. 9 Siman 1)
5) One should not use Ma'aser money to pay "Shadchanus" (money paid to a matchmaker who facilitates a shiduch) even if the Shadchan is a poor person (See Shu"t Zichron Yehuda Yoreh Deah Siman 192. See also Emes L'Yaakov from Rav Yaakov Kemenetsky Zatzal Yoreh Deah Siman 249 for an elaboration and reasoning behind this Halacha)
6) Parents may not put aside Ma'aser money for their small children, in order to set up a "fund" with which to marry them off when they become of age. (Psak of Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach and Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv Zichronam L'Vracha)
However, the parents may give the Ma'aser money to a Gemach (free loan fund) to use to help others and stipulate that when the children grow up, the money must be made available to help them with the wedding expenses. (Psak of Rav Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg Zatzal)
If the children are older and near marriageable age, the parents may indeed set aside Ma'aser money in a "fund" to use for the wedding expenses. (Rav Shmuel Wosner Zatzal. See also Igros Moshe Yoreh Deah Vol. 1 Siman 144)
The age that is considered "marriageable age" is 17 for girls and 18 for boys (according to Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv Zatzal).
Others maintain that the age begins at 11 for girls and 12 for boys (Ruling of Rav Shmuel Wosner Zatzal, who said that from that age, parents already start worrying about the wedding expenses and start cutting back on other household expenses such as new furniture etc. in order to save money for future weddings)
...To be continued next week B’Ezras Hashem
