BS"D
Yom Sheini, 10 Marcheshvan 5768
To Generous Individuals Everywhere, sheyichyu,
Peace, blessing and everything good,
I would like to draw the attention of generous individuals to
the order of preference in giving tzedokoh.
The comments of our master the Chofetz Chaim in his sefer
Ahavas Chesed regarding the character of the mitzvah of
separating a tenth of one's money are well known, namely,
that it is similar to the tithe given to cohanim and
leviim to support them in Torah study. He therefore
concludes that even someone who cannot give all his tithes to
Torah scholars, should make sure to give most, or at least
half of them, to those who toil in Torah study.
It is therefore certainly proper and correct to give
preference to kollel avreichim, sheyichyu, who exert
themselves by toiling in Torah study and in particular, the
avreichim of our Holy Land who learn Torah quite
literally in very straitened circumstances, in order to
strengthen Torah study in our times.
See also the Chofetz Chaim's comments (Ahavas Chesed
20:4): "The main thrust of the regulation (that a person
should not give away more than a fifth of his resources)
refers to ordinary tzedokoh. But where supporting
Torah study is concerned, the Shittah Mekubetzes
(Kesuvos 50a) argues that this rule does not apply. So
it ought to be, since for his support of Torah study, the
supporter obtains a portion of the reward of the scholar's
study," — see there.
The merit of Torah study will constitute bountiful blessing
for those supporting those who engage in it and they will
experience the fulfillment of the posuk, "And I will
empty out uncontainable blessing for them" (Malachi
3:10).
Yosef Sholom Eliashiv
Aharon Leib Shteinman
Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz
Chaim Kanievsky
Shmuel Auerbach
