Long Handwritten & Autographed Responsa by the Maharshag regarding Establishing Charity Fund for the Needy from Maaser Funds. 1912.
Handwritten, autographed halachic responsa by the Maharshag regarding using maaser funds to create a charity fund and distributing the dividends to the poor at the end of each year. The Maharshag rules that it is permissible.
The Maharshag Hagaon Harav Shimon Greenfeld (1861-1930) was Av Beis Din of Szentmihály and author of Shu”t Maharshag. A leading Hungarian rabbi, he studied in the yeshivah of Maharam Schick and journeyed at a young age to study under the Divrei Chaim of Sanz. He succeeded his father as rabbi of Szentmihály where he upheld a prominent yeshivah. Hundreds of his responsa were printed in the 3-volume Shu”t Maharshag.
This responsa was printed in Shu”t Maharshag Vol. 1 Yoreh Deah Ch. 36, however 4 lines added in this original letter after his signature were omitted in print
Szentmihály, 1912. Personal stationery. 4 sides. Page size: 14×22 cm.
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Collection of Responsa Regarding Using Maaser Funds to Establish An Interest-Incurring Charity Fund
In 1912, a Hungarian scholar and philanthropist was inspired to open a charity fund in memory of his late father and use the dividends to support paupers. He was inclined to use maaser money to establish the fund, but was unsure if this was permissible since he was essentially withholding the actual funds from the needy. He directed this query to several prominent Hungarian rabbanim, and the responses he received were varied.
The following are four responsa, each offering a different perspective on this query
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