Rabbi Moshe Langer Shiur on Hilchos Maaser Kesafim at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim Night Kollel

It's very appropriate for the parish that we're holding in last week's par before that we had this week's sitting right in the middle of everything. But we have to understand with my saf is something which as much as it's mentioned in the is not mentioned in the gorish has any to give guilt it's not there discusses a certain but really what we have to start first with of course is theim in the says and says says, "You should not be uh you not strengthen your your heart. Don't close your hand. Give him the as much as he possibly could have and need for his for his for his causes. That's what you're supposed to give him." That's what the says. Fill up the person's pockets for whatever else that he needs. The interesting start is not an interesting little story that we know it says that uh even he doesn't have anything. So he's an know someone who learns with a with a and he said at one time this this young man said that he was learning with him and they were learning there was a coffee machine that there was wasn't coffee just to get you had to buy it and go it doesn't go with pocket change and he couldn't uh couldn't buy coffee man's desperate for coffee so this single mic walks around change so he bought no He says the only time in his life was right coffee. So uh I hope he told that to him. [laughter] He said I don't even know if you ever but uh so that's that's a thing says that's the is you have money someone else needs it give it to them. That's part that's you're supposed to give uh everything you have away. So there's a of and we have to know exactly maybe we'll see a little bit when that applies. Maybe you can go past that. He didn't sleep with money in his house and didn't have a bank account. what whatever he had he gave such a thing but the is nothing to do with micer me is a separate a separate so before we talk about the the purpose of sh is not to go into the specific what should I give to what comes for a second that there's so much to talk about but a little bit just the general of what where my comes from and what exactly we're supposed to uh how we're supposed to set it up so the mitzvah of mis like we know is in the is in the says that the isim that's how he starts off giveim which is again a very important theory of is that if a person has the money and the person who comes to him is not asking him to empty his bank accounts and he knows that person's not going to get it but the person's asking for something someone standing by the candy machine this this type of Thank you. He wants to buy something. He's How much do you want to buy? He wants to buy a riseman cookie. Goes $2. Give him $2. You give him kind said, "No, I'll give you one if you could afford it." He said, "If you could afford it." [snorts] So this uh which is needs to be understood the mess. Let's look the Rambam does in fact say that um there is he goes through he brings on the the mitzvah like we just learned and where did he get it from? So let's see the Rambam you have over here but obviously know it says he gave this week and he says like this He's resp [snorts] he's saying straight out that they were second. He says he was there. Why didn't learn from why from they learn the from we learned from them we don't learn from them for some reason. So it's an interesting thing that we don't we don't have that it's something which needs which needs something which we could think about why he didn't learn why we don't learn from there but did say put in tin test that is which they say from there that's the one that we have of giving a [snorts] so interesting if we learn from there how comes there's a which the is talking about if he didn't take off tempest you didn't take off the micis it's tel you don't that much we don't learn it seems from the puk that it's maybe you make a person gets a paycheck you can't use the paycheck until you give me maybe there's such a thing that we also don't find it's interesting how we sort of picked out which I heard kinyki used to tell he got money he said it's tel he said they they he didn't use the money he said it's te they used to call the money which they weren't yet mafish from they called a te guilt So but we we know that we don't have that we don't have in general that hasn't spread yet but but I'm saying but but it's uh it's something which is uh which which is interesting one place we do it once we're learning on this point where it does apply or where it could apply is when person yet didn't yet reap his profit. Let's say sometimes there's money in the company which is now allocated to the person or the stocks which a person didn't yet harvest the stock the stock he didn't yet cash in on it. It's his. If he wants to he could take any moment push a button the money's in his bank account but he looks at his stocks and he sees the stocks are up. Oh, how much will it go up? $100. Does he have to take out $10 out of his pocket now? and why not you have to that I think there's a like this that it it's it's like until you harvest it it's not yours. So here too it's growing out of the ground. It's in my stock. It's in the company but I didn't yet harvest I didn't take it as mine. It's not defined as mine to use yet. So that's why we're from what I know that people don't take off my money when they see their stocks went up because uh because they uh for one reason is because they haven't yet profited from it. Another reason because you don't take off my every day and you look at the end of the year every half a year and you make a talks about talks about how often should you make your your equations that could be a general but that's another thing which we could learn out from the of which is from of that we learn from this that uh you could compare it to some level of chumis. Also on this point just bouncing off this dasha there's a shila from the bhud was asked and this is a very common shila probably all the time people wonder if they could do this if they don't ask it they still wonder if they could do it and that is um person wants to give me miser money ahead he didn't get his paycheck but someone was asking for mice says I'll take money which is already in his bank account which took off my he'll give it and I'll say I'll take when I get my paycheck then I'll be able to take it off so So and he says this is from the so this is like an unclear could you take off my before you got the money and many many many people do this because they want to give to something but they don't have the money and they're not going to give it if they can't take it off the paycheck which is coming next week or some business deal which they're hoping to make in the some near future. So, but there is a mar that does say that one of his problems is is because of it's um it's you can't you to take off messer before you actually have it. Can't do that. Prison can't take my here I have all these apples. I'll just take off now and next year I'm done. I don't bother with this. I'll just do everything now for next 5 years. I'll take off 100 times and then I don't have to be worried about it. They don't do that. It has to be in your hand. So he's downs with this comparison. The miser is a marel that says that um the marel says that you can take off uh the miser even before even before he encourages it the mar and the for that is the uh the inlopic on this and and he discusses Uh so um so compared to me of the of the test after they don't bring this there is a simal where he writes um that they don't have money they gave and they make a they make a and they say when they make prophet that's the question that was asked to him. So on that the marel writes he says um if a person compares it to Whatever we talking about before also someone who's mocked him says he can give it off before stopping in this sh but there is to know that learns that you can so it's not 100% we see again of too we learn it now from asset But it's not which we learn now from the of the in it's not completely comparable. So now let's look talk about the itself. Is it is it is it a do you have to do it have to do it? Where does it stand exactly? This is a big discussion if it's the or not. The the says he says in the clarify [snorts] we're talking about >> that's so we say being a >> that's whole different than what he speaks about talking about that right that's the question he's talking about numbers how much to give he's saying how much says right that's what that's on those words you're asking what where do we fit those words >> in the min right or was that within appeal person. >> Okay. So that would be so there's two things. So we're going to I'm going to get back to your question because we're going to talk about two situations a person is facing. We're going to get back to that is a very important the wants to say no of different we names but we want to get a bit of an understanding over here of what what is the uh discussion. What's interesting as much of the talk about if it's uh or not there's a ra in riverl which I didn't notice any of them quote the raos says in whatever he's talking about over there that says that it was doesn't say that it was a because it doesn't even before him the already writes that it was a it was a minig to be to give his and other they also say that this is my real so already and the are grappling to understand what it tells us he says a person before he starts giving should say that he's giving so that understands and it's not just let's get back to that again that there's a not [snorts] to to take off and that's what's good for before he starts they gets his he got his first uh his take off that's one place the And also he says you say to what you're giving it to which we're not talking about so much. Should you give could you also give it to sh mitzvah person wants to give money it's myel to uh help the or to build a mikvah or to or something that which is a mitzvah but not an oni which I sometimes say though sometimes if you think about it these mitzvah they're let's say there's a yeshiva and opened up they don't have a ram new yeshiva open up there's no ram bomb so wait a second if a if we A that it's a mitzvah to give someone which means he's used to hot bread says the Gor you give him bring fresh bread you got to give him fresh bread if he's used to a lonov he's used to he's used to having an entourage a nicer car at least in the beginning if he needs he doesn't have the money for it got to get it for him so it's called to get a raam What's doesn't make so it's not called they are for that for that uh thing which they have to get >> the choice between or family. >> Okay. So now that's a good question. What do you do then? So that we're going to get a little bit to this to this be treated as a person say that is in state of an >> the bakim the bakim are in the state of an they don't have if the bak does say they said there's no food for the bakram. So, so the person will get oh there's no food meaning not they're not not starving not coconut fish but there's no there's no uh there's no whatever there's no you know food so uh every day hardboiled eggs every morning with uh with you know some stuff like that they go bring the leftovers from the halls and you know so whatever so let's go to find food I'm not saying but whatever whatever it is so so uh so what do you do that he gave but but there's no swarm Nope. So they'll uh they manage whatever they'll say to him. I'm saying it's not it's it's yeshiva you have to have a you have to have but the question is people are going hungry. People don't have tuition. People don't have wanting to buy their children new next pair of shoes. That's a big issue. So that that brings us really to um to the discussion about because we know that is the not to give more than the discussion and what does that mean if a person who could afford to give amply more than and if he doesn't give more than there's no the money is just going to get moldy too much money for him to spend nothing to do with it. So it's like might as well give it out. Okay. But but uh but some of they learned that a does not not have the limit of when we say is talking about somebody that if if he's going to be there's that he's going to come to but someone who has won't be won't be a that's me there are people that give 50% %. So um but that's but now let's talk about the the general situation and that very important and you got the approach to this discussion of of because at one point in which is the beginning of he writes that um number He says this he gives an example other person see these people that are captive he has a he has a he see people that are hungry people that are are rooming they don't have clothing. So you have to give him what he's lacking and whatever they need to have. That's one place. Um so number one he says but then this question is asked [snorts] then he writes he asks him please give me all my needs then so then what you give him which is what he calls And then that's the but is much stronger. He says that he has supposed to give to so what do you do with this question deals with the deals with this question. So the so the so there's different roots but one thing is very boiled from the Rambam um coming out from the Rambam is first I say one when he says that you should that is you don't have money meaning it's not easy some people they want to give but they don't have to give a they have they do it it's a it's a push they have to like extend themselves that they say maybe he won't be able to buy all the things that he wants to buy if he gives of enjoyments that maybe better foods better better brands let's say on type of food or types of clothing they have to go down a level but he's pushing he wants to give so we have if it's not out of the ordinary type of Islamic extravagant living but he says it's when a person said can give this is one of the that a person who's able to give and it's not a problem It's not that a person of says and and he says that he gave his miser already he's not very nice and now I'll take the second micer comes I gave my mice okay so you have another plenty in mind no problem I'll take the other half that's that's what will come this however there's another and that is look at closely what the is talking about when the ra he says in front of you there are hungry people and there are uh people that don't have proper clothing and that people that are then to give unto you have to worry about yourself but the people they don't have what does he say the case is in the comes to ask he doesn't say it's talking about a destitute situation that the was talking about he's talking about a situation a person says I need help with something can you help me out I'm missing I I don't have uh I don't have some basic needs. Person come says but mash person come I don't have my electric bill was shut down. They shut off my water. They shut off my heat. I don't have uh they took away my car. I don't have anything. I don't they don't give me food in on credit in the grocery anymore. And uh and there's no food stamps. So what what do I do? I'm stuck. I don't know what to eat. I don't know what to wear. That's cold in my house. That person you can't just ignore that. This is what we call when he says this says and so that is talking about a situation where it's more of a of a of a of a um it's it's a it's a situation it's not a either you can't afford it like said or it's not something which is a compelling reason that I have to give if you don't have it you don't have I'm giving a m I'm going to be ban but that that's the that's the so we're talking over there not so much about the general of micer the general of messer is talking about a person gets money yeah not on someone here not so there I'm taking off my putting in the side in a side bag side envelope and when comes I have this money ready for him I'm not going to spend it on myself I'm going to give it away I'm going to put in a bank account that's the meaning of miser the miser is talking about well regardless of the situ situation in front of me. I'm taking off micer and I'm willing to give it before this minute. If a person does not keep this mig of micer, what happens is that when a situation arises and someone knocks on his door says I have a problem. I don't I I need help. I I can't fix my car. I can't get to work. And you So then you see, oh, he can't fix he can't get to work. No, they're going to fire him. Yesterday I was busy with it. Today they say don't come today to work and I and I have to drive. There's no buses there. The person's in a serious situation. If you can give a or go into your to help him out to help him out or but but to ignore it completely show you he can't ignore it to give stuck to the man if you're going to do it. So we're dealing with here three situations. One situation is that a person let's say no one's coming to him to ask him for money you know he doesn't know what he just has money so you take off 10% you put aside we'll start thinking where to put it then you have a situation >> it's what >> okay so today now now nowadays right so is nowadays though I was going to get to that then nowadays the situation is that really it's because there's always first of all because that's the in the world uh every artist says already but that that there could be someplace. But now they're all they're around. There's the the way the world is that there always people that need and also because the way our world works, you're always made aware of the an that are around either coming to they're coming in or they're coming to the door or there's pamphlets or there's all types of advertisements all things constantly going around of needs. So, so therefore really it would come out then that would be a not because only a person does not give it just says doesn't say on anything. So but so it would be that he has to give something but the the there would always be a place to the the ma money is going to is going to is going to have to go the thing so it's never if you learn that ma is a mig then a person could say I want to be in ra I want to be what call cheap I don't want to give I it's not nice so I'm not nice I don't want to give more than mice [snorts] more than it happens more than mice says it manifests this amazing thing just to point out how what this was it used to be in times that there wasn't such a strong thing giving me micer mess actually used to be a bit of a almost you find in the um today I mean if it will be to give your right you know and And writes so he says that it wasn't common today that people give that's they give me someone doesn't give and it's trickier a person who makes a lot of money has to be more on top of his of his that he's giving the micer because a person could give a lot lot of money and he didn't hit the micer because his mice is very big. It's in a certain way harder because a person made a million dollar and he has to give $200,000. It's not there's nothing left for me. I just gave $200,000 away. I'm going to go poor. You know, I did 800. So, uh so um uh it's a big number. A person made $1,000 to give $100. It sounds smaller, but the the equations are the same. So, we give we give me we give outer. So we have over here a situation which comes out of kim but if an oni comes a person's aware or like we speak about before what do you do have yeshiva the two people come to the door what do you want the yeshiva doesn't have what's yeshiva andam there's no we only have a it's a we yes we don't have that we need okay what do you have uh let's say three people the other person says um I make in three months what we What do you what's going on? I'm trying to get what I can. It's my fourth one in three months. I need a lot of help. Okay. I mean, you know, we have multiple in the house. So, so it's big big work. It's okay. Fine. And you are coming out. I don't have electricity. It's it's it's it's 14° outside. You know electricity? No. They cut the shutdown electricity and uh I don't have much. So, I need to get it started again. So what do you do? Big question. So okay, this person has a stuckle. It's the the the situation is extreme. You need to be the other person, you know, one's burn a burning situation right in front of you. You say, "Yeah, there's no rambom. I don't I don't know, you know, but if it's you have to get but but um but the point is is that we're deal when you're dealing with a burning situation, you have to put out the fire to put the fire. The case of the Ra is not a realistic. It doesn't happen. the case of electricity unfortunately is a s is case is real people living in their cars so it's it's a real so so uh then we get into the whole story of of of kadima but I think what's what's being over here a little bit more is this is this is this situation that we have the uh we have a few points number one in the me summary now what we've been spoken the does not talk about numbers the Torah says one thing don't be uh uh Don't hold your hand closed. Give the person what he needs. That's that's that's you're not supposed to have money left in your pocket. No saving up. You have something left for say give it. That's a cap on the money. He said I guess you have to say said we're going to end. We're going to give away all their money. So fine. That's after that came a minute which we started from the concept of messer which for some reason did not take that and make it a ton what we call we saw the fe like but one or or a mic but that's something to give or or maybe even But that is something which is the regular of is to give off no matter what. Put it aside. That's the after that if only comes in front of you then a will give up to me. So since so basically the the is something which became a uh a standard a standard uh minig that we that we have. [snorts] Huh? >> So that would be which is in the same I believe he says uh you have I think it's when he puts it down. Huh? He says there's um then he goes and then he goes on and he says the next That's within over here of notif. So meaning I'm coming to you. So you give these amount which is but whatever it is a person should give at least but it doesn't talk about it's not talking about it my something which is the mid what we have that's what that's one thing that would clarify what's going on in this in this uh in this sie but what definitely what we and what we learn from here in general is the is the outlook is that not to when when something comes up person has to make a shik. There's so many things that go on. It's true. But sometimes if this is a need which is an im immediate and a burning need. So he has to jump in and try to do what he can to if he could do the reason why we don't do today is because of a in in I believe that says that uh that's a of and we and we say that when you have a few people that could join in and do it together. So then you you uh don't you have to give the because that's someone else. They say, "Okay, I hear you. There's a medical operation needed for this person. It costs a lot of money. It's private. They don't have private insurance and it's a you have to take care of it." Okay. How much is the operation? $50,000. So, you come to the first person. He has to write a $50,000 check. No, because he says, "I know you're going to go to 10 other 15 other people that are capable of helping out in a nice way and together we're going to help out." But what happens if they if they went everywhere and they come to the last gir and they listen it cost $50,000. We've been spending a week on this. We knocking on doors making us see if it's probably meaning that we got to we got to $41,000. We need another $9,000 and then tickets to fly. We we need we need another $15,000. We don't do it. It's a big problem. We can help us out. She says $15,000. I I don't give to one person $15,000. I have I have my thing to medical. Oh, I always told my secretary medical 1,000 1500 yaman 2,000 that's how I work send in an email get back call to that doesn't doesn't work like that always so they do that they reach everybody it's unbelievable system but there's no question first of all they get people get through the chimney they get them you know they find them personally but but the miser what do you do with uh what do you do with this situation he says I have my doesn't say you got to go ahead and you got to give him the $15,000 check because says there's nobody left. You have the not of it's a very important. So I hope this clarify a little bit. There's so much more to learn. But when you have this in perspective, it helps us understanding micer which is when you're giving there such a thing as messer and then you have which is sometimes sometimes because what's in front of you and sometimes it's because what you have in your bank account could be the in front of you could be you got to spend up to help them out one shot. Otherwise if a person is a great so learn not only is even more doesn't say that finds he holds that even for an but thinking more they learn that if a person is an he should give more you have a lot of reasons to give if it's for if it's for there's a whole list of reasons when a person could give even more said there's no so so uh So besides after the before the soak which always be giving and and huh does that mean the