Ask The Rabbi
Facebook Youtube

Ask The Rabbi
Facebook Youtube

category:  Jewish Law

Contributions from Jews who don’t observe Shabbat

The Rav Name: Rabbis of the Da’at Institute
  • Question

I have seen it written that it is potentially problematic to receive contributions nowadays from Jews who don’t observe Shabbat or keep Torah and mitzvot. Most contributions today actually do come from such Jews. So, on what basis would this be permitted?

  • Answer
Halachic authorities today are of the opinion that many Jews today are considered to be in the category of ‘babes in captivity,’ that is, Jews who have not received sufficient positive exposure to their heritage and, therefore, do not understand the significance of mitzvot. Nonetheless, many of them do contribute to Torah and tzedaka organizations. For this reason we are allowed to follow the lenient opinions, and this is the accepted practice of world Jewry.

Sources

פסקי תשובות ח”ב ע’ רצו