Tzedakah Triage

Hi,

Providing food for the needy precedes providing clothing for the needy.

(Tzedakah uMishpat 3:18, and see footnotes there)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Wedding Tzedakah

Hi,

Giving a couple the means to have a wedding qualifies as tzedakah. However, the couple should be careful not to spend more than is considered 'normal' for the wedding.

(Tzedakah uMishpat 3:1, and see footnotes there)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Earmarked aid

Hi,

One who wishes to support an individual may give him a gift with explicit conditions for its use, such as a stipulation that it not be used to re-pay certain debts. Despite the debtor's obligation to re-pay his debt, this money may not be used for that payment.

(Pitchei Choshen, Halvaah 2:28)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Use of tzedakah one has received

Hi,

One who receives tzedakah, which was given with the stipulation that it be used for his household's basic needs (food/clothing/utilities), is not permitted to use it for other purposes, even to pay off debts. One may not even borrow from the funds for that purpose.

This may be true even if the money is given without such a stipulation; even within the view of those who contend that an individual recipient may vary from donor intent, a recipient may only use tzedakah for purposes which will enable the donor to fulfill his mitzvah of tzedakah.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Yoreh Deah 1:152)

Have a great day,
Mordechai