Beit Midrash for Birurei Halachah Binyan Zion

Question: Shalom kevod HaRav, I took a shevuah to pay a certain amount of money to tzedaka if I would not fulfill certain things. I did not fulfill them, and thus I am obligated to pay the money by my shevuah. Due to the considerable amount, it is currently difficult for me to pay the money out of extra funds. Can I pay it out of my normal maaser kesafim money? Thank you Answer: No, maaser money may not be ...

Question: I saw a machlokes netween the Pitchei Teshuva and the Aruch Hashulchan if in laws have the same status of parents in regard to kedima with tzedaka or they have a lesser status. what is the minhag haolam? thank you Answer: When dealing with a question that is not a very common one, there is generally no "minhag haolam" to determine the psak. Minhag is a determining factor for widely asked common ev ...

Question: According to to the Rav Shlita, can one use maaser money to pay for his children's school fees most of which go towards kodesh studies? With many thanks. Answer: Ideally, maaser money should be given to poor people or other proper charities. However the minhag is to be lenient and use maaser to pay for other mitzvos as well. With regards to tuition there is another concern, that one may not use ma ...

Question: Can one use maaser money to buy seats at shul for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur? Answer: Being that the money is going to a shul, which is certainly a valid recipient of maaser and tzedaka, buying a seat for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur would also be permitted. The Taz [Y:D 249] permits using maaser money for a wide range of mitzvos, but here where the money is going to a shul, this would certainly q ...

Question: Can one use maaser money to buy seforim that one will use to prepare shiurim? Kol tuv Answer: The poskim bring purchsing seforim as a vaild use for maaser money. However this is only if he otherwise would not have bought the sefer with his own money. In addition he has to write in the sefer that the sefer is from maaser money, and should be made available to others to use as well. Seforim which wi ...