Q&A: Obligation of Charity
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Obligation of Charity
Question
How should we conduct ourselves nowadays when every time I go to the synagogue people approach the worshippers and ask for charity (this happens every day, unfortunately)? Should we send them away empty-handed, or appease them with words? As for an actual obligation, it seems almost clear to me that there is no obligation, but is there some value in giving something, or not?
Answer
I don’t deal in “special spiritual value.” Do what seems right to you.