Torah

Question: May a person deduct business expenses before giving maaser k’safim? May he offset profits with losses from a different transaction?

Short Answer: Most Acharonim allow business expense deductions before giving maaser k’safim. Many Acharonim also allow offsetting profits with losses so long as the transactions occurred in the same maaser year or before maaser was calculated.

The Power Of Preparing Before We Daven

We all want our tefilos to be more meaningful. We want to feel that we are truly speaking to Hashem, rather than simply reciting familiar words. Yet how often do we arrive in shul, open our siddur, and begin davening almost immediately, without giving ourselves even a moment to consider what we are about to do?

Question: May one use maaser k’safim funds for kimcha d’Pischa, the special charity given before Pesach?

Short Answer: According to most poskim, since there is no set amount or specific community tax for kimcha d’Pischa, it can be paid for with maaser k’safim funds.

Our Father, our King, return us to You in perfect repentance.

Transforming A Familiar Pasuk Into A Daily Exercise In Bitachon

Every morning, toward the conclusion of Hodu, we recite a remarkable declaration of bitachon: “Va’ani b’chasdecha batachti, yagel libi bishuasecha; ashirah laHashem ki gamal alai.” “As for me, I have trusted in Your kindness; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to Hashem, for He has dealt kindly with me.” (Tehillim 13:6)

We are approaching the final, precious days of Elul and the Yamim Noraim. Naturally, much of our focus is on our own teshuvah: What do I need to change? Where can I improve? How can I best accept Hashem’s Malchus?