#8 - Commercial activity as a chessed with profits going to Tzeddakah. Can this count as Maiser money?

Question

Sometimes I do a commercial activity as a chessed. For a variety of reasons, I

let the person I do it for know that 100% of the money they give me will go to

tzeddakah (charity). Can we both count this as maiser money?

Answer

Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’a pointed out that the person you do your

commercial activity for, is obviously receiving a benefit and he is paying you

for it. The only one contributing to Tzedakah is you, as you can do with that

money as you please, not him. So only you can count it as "Maaser Money". He

would be considered though as a "Mesaayeah Lidvar Mitvah", somebody who

helps his fellow do a Mitzvah.

Rabbi A. Bartfeld

Answered by: Hagaon Rav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a

Published: February 11, 2009

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