Q&A: Charity in Thought
Charity in Thought
Question
The Rema rules at the end of section 258 that charity can take effect through thought. My question is whether a person nowadays can cope with this Jewish law. Doesn’t it lead to doubts, stress, and OCD?
By the way, I belong to the Sephardic community and rely on those who understand the Shulchan Arukh to rule that charity does not take effect through thought; see Choshen Mishpat 212:8.
One more note: in Pitchei Teshuvah he cites the responsa Esh Dat, which ruled that even for Ashkenazim, charity does not take effect through thought.
Answer
Why not? We are not talking about a passing thought, but about a decision made mentally, without saying it aloud. Forgive me, but this very question itself looks like a result of OCD.
I won’t get into the question here of what it means to issue a halakhic ruling for Ashkenazim. Nobody rules for them. They have to decide what they do. And if they decide to follow the Rema, that is their decision, not the Rema’s. So Esh Dat does not issue a ruling for Ashkenazim. He states his opinion, and Ashkenazim will decide what they want to do.
Discussion on Answer
Someone who has OCD should go to a doctor. What kind of question is that? How does someone who has no money cope with Jewish law? Or someone who has no arm or leg? Illnesses create problems, and that’s what doctors are for. What does that have to do with Jewish law?
Okay, and what should someone who actually has OCD do? How is he supposed to cope with this Jewish law?