by Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com Even during the COVID-19 era there are people that enter shuls to collect Tzedakah.  Some shuls still let everyone in, and others do not. GREATNESS OF TEFILLAH The classic work entitled the Chovos Halvavos provides five things that can be achieved in Tefilah – prayer: • It expresses the yearning of our neshama – to connect and achieve dveikus with Hashem. • It allows us to develop our own sense of humility when contemplating Hashem • It allows us to recognize, ever so slightly and to our limited capabilities, Hashem’s Greatness. • It allows us an opportunity to praise and to thank Hashem for the many kindnesses that He performs for us each day – indeed each moment. • It allows us to cast our burdens upon Hashem by requesting of Him all of our needs and to realize that all of our affairs are truly in His hands. Clearly, we can achieve remarkable things through davening. GREATNESS OF TZEDAKAH The Mitzvah of Tzedakah is also remarkably important. The Talmud Yerushalmi (Peah 1:1) tells us that Tzedakah and chessed are equal to all of the Mitzvos in the Torah. The Midrash Zutah (Shir HaShirim aleph) explains that if the people of the Dor HaMabul (the generation of the flood) and the people of Sdom had only given Tzedakah – they would not have been destroyed. In fact, the Gemorah in Sukkah (49b) tells us that Tzedakah is greater than all of the Korbanos! THE TWO TOGETHER What happens then, when both of these Mitzvos Tefilah and Tzedakah collide? And more specifically, what happens when these two Mitzvos collide during COVID-19?  There are many needy people that come into shul from throughout the borough, from beyond the borough and, when flights were available, from Eretz Yisroel in order to collect Tzedakah. Are there halachic guidelines and protocols as to when they can collect during Davening and when they cannot?  Should they be allowed entry into shul as well? Is it permitted during Psukei D’Zimra or chazaras HaShatz? Is it forbidden or permitted to give during these times? The issue is the matter of much shul conversation debate. TZEDAKAH IS NOT OPTIONAL We are working, of course, with the assumption that if one sees a real Ani, one is obligated to give him money. This is the clear implication and understanding of the words of the author of the Shulchan Aruch (247:1). It is also how most of the Achronim understand the Mechaber too. Tzedakah is a full-fledged obligation to be supporting the poor – it is not optional. One does not have to give an entire dollar, nor, according to many Poskim must one give to people that could theoretically be working. One could, however, prepare quarters to give. It should also be noted that if one does not have funds to give, this is not considered an Ones – it is a full-fledged exemption. THE RAN’S VIEW One issue, of course, that comes to mind is the idea of Osaik baMitzvah patur min haMitzvah – one who is involved in a Mitzvah is exempt from another Mitzvah. The RaN (Sukkah 25a) rules that this principle is applicable even if it is possible to fulfill both Mitzvos with the one caveat that if it must […]

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