1) It is acceptable to "buy" Aliyos to the Torah or other Kibudim (honors during the davening, such as opening the Aron Kodesh, Hagbah etc.) with Ma'aser money, if the money goes to poor people. (See Shu"t Bais Dino Shel Shlomo Yoreh Deah Siman 1. See also Ahavas Chesed Vol. 2 Perek 19:2 and Shu"t Chasam Sofer Yoreh Deah Siman 249)
If only part of the money goes to poor people, and the rest goes to the Shul or another acceptable cause, then Ma'aser money may be used only if there is nobody else to "buy" the Aliyos, and even then it is best to only give the part that goes to the poor people from Ma'aser.
2) One must have in mind before bidding on these honors that if he wins he plans to pay using Ma'aser money, otherwise it is like any other debt, and he cannot pay with Ma'aser money. (Shu"t Bais Dino Shel Shlomo ibid.)
If the entire money goes to pay the Shul's expenses (utilities, salaries of Chazan, caretaker etc.) it should not be paid for with Ma'aser money. (ibid.)
Halachos for Shabbos Kodesh
1)When using Ma'aser money to pay for Aliyos or other Kibbudim (when all the conditions we enumerated above 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, non ma'aser, 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 rule Halacha 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 topic and Answers.
These Q&A are taken from the Q & A pages on the Halacha For Today website.
Although the answers I give to questions are taken directly from the Sifrei HaPoskim, and aren't my own, they are still for study purposes only, NOT for Psak Halacha.
Questions can be emailed to HalachaForToday@Gmail.com
Question:
What is the halacha regarding a woman in aveilus (after shloshim, in the first year of mourning for a parent) wearing new clothing?
Answer:
The prevalent minhag is not to wear new clothes for the entire year. (See Rama Yoreh Deah Siman 389:3)
If very necessary, someone else can wear the clothes for 2 or 3 days and then they are no longer considered new and then the avel may wear them. (See Be'er HaGolah Yoreh Deah Siman 389 Os 17)
CHIZUK CORNER
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