1)When using Ma'aser money to pay for Aliyos or other Kibbudim (when all the conditions we enumerated yesterday have been met) only the amount that you added to the previous bid may come from Ma'aser.
For example, if the bidding was holding at $50, and you upped it to $75, you may pay $25 of that from Ma'aser while the other $50 must be paid from your own money.
The reason for this is because had you not bid, the Tzedaka would have received $50 anyway from the person that originally bid, and you only added an additional $25. Only the gain that you aided the Tzedaka in getting may come from Ma'aser. (Elya Rabba Orach Chaim Siman 156 and Rav Akiva Eiger on Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah Siman 249. This is also how Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky Zatzal in Emes L'yaakov Yoreh Deah Siman 249 and many other Gedolei HaPoskim Pasken L'maaseh)
2) However, if the original bidder was planning to use Ma'aser money too to pay if he won, perhaps the above Halacha would be different as in that case, the original $50 would have been from Ma'aser money anyway, albeit from a different person. A Rav should be consulted for Halacha L'maaseh.
QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER:
(Reader Submitted Questions of interest (on topics related to Halachos we covered, as well as other interesting topics) and my Answers taken from the Q & A page on the Halacha For Todaywebsite. For study purposes only, NOT for Psak Halacha. Questions can be sent to Halacha For Today)
Reader's Question:
Does one have to stop davening completely when KADDISH is said? Also can one answer to KEDDUSHA, BARACHU etc. after Zman Tefilah?
My Answer:
1) I am assuming you are asking if you are in the middle of Shemona Esrei. Yes, when Kaddish is being said it is best to stop and listen to the "Amen Yehei Shemei Rabbah" of Kaddish until after "Yisbarach" (according to the Mishna Berura 104:27) or until after "D'Amiran B'Alma V'Imru Amen" (according to the Machtzis HaShekel), without actually saying the words. The same applies to anytime during the rest of davening that you hear "Amen Yehei Shemie Rabbah", though very often you may even be permitted to answer, and not just listen, depending on which part of the rest of davening you are holding.
2) B'Dieved, under certain circumstances (Oin'es etc.) one who davens after Zman tefilah, though he doesnt have Kiyum of Tefilah B'Zmanah can still daven until Chatzos, and if you hear kadish or Kedusha from such a minyan, you may indeed answer. However if one is davening after 1/2 hour after Chatzos he isn't Yotzei and his Brachos are L'vatalah. (See Biur Halacha Siman 89 Dibur Hamaschil V'Achar). Therefore, Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv Shlita Paskens that it is forbidden to answer Amen to Kadish, Kedusha etc. of such a minyan. The Maharam Shik Siman 91, however seems to be matir to answer (his case discusses one davening Mincha after the zman) as does the Eishel Avraham (Butchatch) Siman 108.
Our holy sages, the Chazal tell us
תנא דבי אליהו כל השונה הלכות בכל יום מובטח לו שהוא בן עולם הבא, שנאמר הליכות עולם לו, אל תקרי הליכות אלא הלכות - one who studies [at least two] Halachos daily is assured a portion in Olam Haba - the world to come. (:מגילה כ"ח )
Important Numbers
