- Family and Society
- General Questions
59
Question
Is there is time or day after Rosh Hashana there is a tradition to give money, when? To do it correctly?
Answer
Shalom,
Thank you for your question. You are correct that giving charity is very important, especially around the Days of Judgment. We say in the prayer service that “prayer, repentance and charity” can avert a bad decree. So, giving charity is very desirable (at all times) but especially around these special days of judgment. Also, there is an ancient tradition called “kaparot” which is also preformed during the days around Rosh HaShona and Yom Kippur. While some people use a chicken for this custom – which they then give to charity (or it's worth) – many, perhaps most people, today use money for this custom, giving it charity.
As to when to give the charity – there is no exact time that has particular importance. As long as one does not give the money on the Festival itself, or Shabat, when it is forbidden to handle money, any time is good. Some people like to give the charity just before the festival, so they both help poor people who need funds for the festival, and also so they themselves enter the festival with this extra merit. Others find the days of repentance between Rosh Hashona and Yom Kippur as special days when giving more charity is certainly appropriate.
Of course, one is not limited to giving only once, and if one is able, then giving a few times over these days would be a good thing.
Blessings for a good year.

Constant Begging
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Tevet 1, 5771

Tzedaka from government grants
Various Rabbis | Iyyar 26, 5771

Giving Tzdaka with Right Hand
Rabbi David Sperling | Tammuz 28, 5772

Maaser Ksafim
Rabbi Eliezer S. Weisz | 23 Adar 5764

Shorts for men
Rabbi Chaim Tabasky | 25 Elul 5766

Feeding Animals on Passover
Rabbi Chaim Tabasky | 30 Nisan 5765

The Theory of Jewish Inherent Superiority
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Adar I 25, 5771

Relations with a gentile woman
Rabbi Chaim Tabasky | Tevet 16, 5768

Re how does God do terrible things to people
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Tevet 26, 5785

Bar Mitzva for adult who missed it
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Tevet 6, 5785

Yiddish to Hebrew
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Shevat 1, 5785
