tzedakah and/or tithing

[garrett]

I'm curious how any or all of you guys/ladies approach this topic. Some of my financial straits have eased up a bit. This puts me in a position to be more generous. How do you guys give? How often and when?

[alon]

Aug 19, 2019 3:10:40 GMT -8 garrett said:

I'm curious how any or all of you guys/ladies approach this topic. Some of my financial straits have eased up a bit. This puts me in a position to be more generous. How do you guys give? How often and when?

Happy to hear your financial problems are easing up.

I tithe to my synagogue, 10%. And I donate as I can to our missions. As Europe and the US has let the pressure off Islam they have risen up worldwide. Attacks on many of our synagogues overseas has increased, and here at home we've had to take security measures as there have been threats. So I give what I can. I also give to Jewish relief. Though honestly I've had to curtail my giving somewhat as my finances are getting tighter. My mom was in a good facility 'till she passed, and my sister and I are still paying off that bill at a time where both our finances are struggling. But I give what I can. 

Dan C

[garrett]

Aug 19, 2019 7:18:20 GMT -8 alon said:

Aug 19, 2019 3:10:40 GMT -8 garrett said:

I'm curious how any or all of you guys/ladies approach this topic. Some of my financial straits have eased up a bit. This puts me in a position to be more generous. How do you guys give? How often and when?

Happy to hear your financial problems are easing up.

I tithe to my synagogue, 10%. And I donate as I can to our missions. As Europe and the US has let the pressure off Islam they have risen up worldwide. Attacks on many of our synagogues overseas has increased, and here at home we've had to take security measures as there have been threats. So I give what I can. I also give to Jewish relief. Though honestly I've had to curtail my giving somewhat as my finances are getting tighter. My mom was in a good facility 'till she passed, and my sister and I are still paying off that bill at a time where both our finances are struggling. But I give what I can. 

Dan C

Thanks for the input. There was a time when 10% or more of all my income was taken right off the top. (Plus 10% into savings) And I was happy to do so. And the money went to the right places. Those were more fortunate times....until we hit a long stretch of lean times. The worst was when it came to buying groceries or tithing. Well, we needed to eat. Things have begun to improve (painfully slow!) and last week I was hit with the notion that I should give some money - somewhere - pretty soon. 

These days I feel like there are two approaches...the 10% method and the approach of tzedakah, which is applying righteousness and justice, but it's also about giving charitably during the worst of times. That part is easy when I come across someone on the street asking for a few dollars. But larger amounts of money......? Maybe the best thing for now is a mix of both methods.

garrett
 

[alon]

Aug 20, 2019 2:53:56 GMT -8 garrett said:

I am once again going to take the unpopular view. First off, if it is a choice between placing food on the table and tithing, then family is your first responsibility. It doesn't have to be steak every night with desert, just balanced, nutritious meals. If your Rabbi/pastor is doing without, then give to him directly what you can. If the congregation is not supporting him then either is is a small, poor one or their spending priorities are all wrong. In fact, if that's the case I'd advocate giving your tithes directly to him even if you are wealthy! But most of us are definitely not in that happy circumstance. 

Giving to people you see on the street requires judgement. Some panhandlers make more than you or I or both! Others, you may be subsidizing a drug dependancy. And there will always be more need than even a wealthy man cab meet. So give judiciously there, and always try to have some kind of witnessing component. Instead of giving $10.00, buy the person a good meal. Then sit with them and talk, making it a witnessing opportunity.

If you feel like you should make tzedikah, a gift of some amount as charity above your tithes, I'd suggest giving to Messianic organizations you've vetted as thoroughly as possible. It isn't reported in the media, but right now we are getting reports of Muslim violence on the rise in places where we have synagogues: the Philippines and other Pacific Rim countries, India and Pakistan, and even S America and here in the US! Our main synagogue has had to take security measures because of direct threats of violence. So my suggestion is to give to Meshiachim in these countries either directly or through relief agencies, because there is no one else coming to help our brothers and sisters in those places. And honestly, we don't know what real poverty is.

Messianic believers in many countries dominated by religions like Hinduism and particularly Islam are the last hired and the first to be let go. They are cheated, robbed, and oft times their very lives are in danger. I've met and talked with Messianics from some of these places. I've been to some of them before I was Messianic and seen what is considered good conditions there. Unless you were there you can't imagine. And I can't imagine how the Meshiachim there manage. Especially since most of the affordable food there is treif. And they still put up their sukkot, even though those are like neon signs saying "Here we Are!" They are faithful, and often charitable, taking in orphans and sharing what little they have. Our synagogue in India runs a school, which the Muslm kids from the next village over come to. But give and you shall receive: they know when an attack is going to be made on the school because no Muslim kids show up that day! So they evacuate, take what materials they can with them, then come back and clean up and repair, and welcome the Muslim kids back in a week or so when they reopen. Now that is true tzedikah!

My point is give where it is really needed, not 5 here and 10 there, much of which may go to things you disagree with. And not saying never give on the street, either. But put your money where it will do some good. Israel always needs relief. And many Messianics in places you never hear about need relief even more! Also there are many Messianic synagogues that are hurting, some about to close their doors. And sadly those tend to be the ones that are truly Messianic. The parent synagogue of this forum had to give up their building (which was a converted home in a very nice, secluded location) and move back into a storage building. But when you hold the line on strict observance and do full Jewish style services you aren't going to attract and keep a large congregation. And in addition to his ongoing studies and duties as a Rabbi, R Reuel works a full time job (or he did last I spoke with him, which has been a while).

So there are places where the money can do a lot of good right here at home. Not plugging for donations (which they have NEVER asked me to do here, by the way), just giving examples that I am familiar with. But it takes a little work to find these giving venues, to check them out and make sure they are legit, and sometimes even to find ways to get the money to them. For me it is easy, since every penny I designate for missions in my synagogue goes to the people, not to admin fees or anything else. Often we eat the cost of transferring funds as well. And Rabbi has been there, met with the people and knows they are still Observant Messianic, following our teachings and halacha (though it is different, based on the individual places and needs of the people). But I check out other giving such as to veterans orgs just as thoroughly as I advocate for others to check out giving tzedikah. The info is out there. It's up to us to find it.

Dan C

note: there are new people here, so I should explain again- I am not a member of Synagogue Chavurat HaMashiach, the parent synagogue of this forum. They are 3-4 hrs away, depending on traffic and whether I or my wife is driving. I am a member of another synagogue where the Rabbi comes to a town close to me on Erev Shabbat. Our services are closer to a protestant service (but not the same) than SCHM services, but still we are full observance and our teachings and halacha are similar. I just moderate the forum for SCHM. I have met with them a few times, and they are good people. But due to health concerns I don't travel as much any more. So it has been a while.

[jimmie]

Deuteronomy 14:23 And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.
21 If the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to put his name there be too far from thee, then thou shalt kill of thy herd and of thy flock, which the LORD hath given thee, as I have commanded thee, and thou shalt eat in thy gates whatsoever thy soul lusteth after.
29 And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.


Deuteronomy 26:12 When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled;

[madison5]

I've recently started tithing again after experiencing financial challenges trying to make ends meet.  Once my husband and I tithed according to our pay periods which are weekly and biweekly, we have reached a great financial breakthrough!  The scripture that applies to our situation is Proverbs 3:9 which says Honour the Lord (Yeshua) with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase.  I also financially supported a Jewish Girls Orphanage in Netanya, Israel for several years and will consider giving to a Messianic ministry in the near future. 



Madison5

[alon]

Too many people wrestle unnecessarily with the idea of their “tithe.” Should I only give 1/10th? Should I always give 1/10th? 1/10th of my gross, or just what I actually take home? The idea of the tithe comes from 1 place in :

Genesis 14:20 (ESV) and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Avraham gave “a tenth” of his spoils to Melchi’tzedek (righteous king). But we should note this was a gift to the earthly king of Salem, who was also a “priest of God Most High.” So why did Abraham really give him a “tenth?” Probably because he was sojourning in this king’s territory:

Genesis 13:18 (ESV) So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord.

Custom would demand Avraham honor this king.

But consider that Avraham did just give 10%:

Genesis 14:24a (ESV) I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me.

This is a problem when we try to quantify our debt to God using Gen 14:20. Avraham did not just “tithe,” he gave up all his share, everything. Giving is biblical, but it goes far beyond 10% in Judaism, even today. Tzedekah, giving and charity are important principles in .

So how much should we give, and to who? This is just my opinion, but it’s what I do:

-- 10% is a good base, as it seems to work well for supporting most religious institutions and the pastor/priest/rabbi. But if there is need there, especially in God’s servant, then give more.
-- Provide the necessities for your own family first. Don’t let anyone bully or you into “tithing” if it means the kids go hungry.
-- Give charity to our own first. Charity is above whatever you give to maintain the institution where you worship. Give to the needy in your congregation such that they can give to those even less fortunate than they. And allow     them their dignity. I prefer to give through my synagogue, anonymously.
-- Interchangeable with any of the above is to give to your own immediate family based on the need.
-- Give next to Messianic causes. Few others are helping us, so we must help our own.
-- Then I give a little to veterans organizations and/or political organizations which are fighting for things I believe in.
-- I also try to give some to Israeli relief.
-- By this time I typically have little if any disposable income left. If so I may give to people on the street. But one thing about this, there will always be more need there than you or I can meet. If I give there I like to make it an     opportunity to witness. And don’t subsidize someone’s degenerate habits.

And one last thing about “tithing.” It is not just about money. It is our time and talents as well as our witness. Like Avraham, everything belongs to God. Those who just give a small percentage of their net and think it will buy them real estate in heaven may be in for a rude surprise!

Dan C

[alon]

So someone said "Now I'm confused. Before I had a definite number, but you are saying that is wrong!" Turns out he wasn't so confused after all ...

God did not create a bunch of robots who'd love Him and do EXACTLY what He said! He created people with minds and cognitive reasoning skills, and He expects us to use them! Like I said, if you need a number, 10% makes a good BASE. But try giving above that base, especially if you see there is need. And if the need is yours and your families, don't think you have to eat shoe leather and weeds in order to be able to "tithe." But God grants us the mercy of living in a land where the poorest are rich by some standards. So it won't hurt most of us to give to Israeli relief. But first we give at home. If you can't give something to help your brother in need, biological or spiritual, then you are in shape, either spiritually or physically/circumstantially. 

At the church I attended when I left Christianity, we had a small men's group. And we guaranteed we'd help each other, and many times I had to make good on that promise. Oddly, the hardest thing was to ask for help, but I had to when doing remodeling/installations that needed 2 men. And they always came through. But we had a couple of men who had to leave town for work. We told their wives if they had a problem, one phone call to any of us and at least 2 men would be there within about 10 minutes. And I made good on that promise more than once, as did others.I also gave to help one of those families through the hard times. That's what God calls us to do!

And He calls us to give our time and talents to His service. There is no reason our synagogues should have to hire out repair jobs when there are men there who know how to do them. Everyone has talents they can contribute. If nothing else pushing a broom, moving furnishings, carrying materials so the tradesmen can work. 

And leadership is at fault for not teaching the people to work from principles, and often not allowing others to help. Too often we get a sermon on Avraham's generosity, which closes with the "Widows Mite." Both stories are grossly misapplied, then followed by a call to just open your wallets! It's a control thing too many in the clergy suffer from. They can spend the money and get it done like they want, whereas if everyone is involved, from procurement and planning to the finished product; well, it might not come out just like they'd dreamed of. And meantime they robbed the entire assembly the opportunity to experience the joy of working together, giving both time and money. I was a PK, and I've seen this time and again, across denominational lines.

Give what you can, not just some magical number that buys you a ticket to heaven. Use the brain God gave you. Just beware lest you cheat God. Because there is another story that does relate: "Ananais and Sapphira." And there is nothing wrong with treating the family, keeping an emergency fund, putting money aside for property taxes, etc. Just learn to be generous as well, with both your time and money.

Dan C