Charity

🎙️ Maaser, Debt & Donor Funds

When halacha meets household budgets — what you must know

Million-dollar halachos for middle-class income. In this clear, direct, and surprisingly empowering episode, host Moshe Alpert, CFP® is joined by Rabbi Tzvi Yaakov Stein (aka The Texting Rabbi) to break down the financial halachos of Maaser, tzedaka, and Jewish generosity in the real world of credit cards, tuition discounts, donor-advised funds, and kollel stipends.

Whether you’re making $60K or $600K, this episode is packed with practical examples, real-life leniencies, and strong Torah perspectives to help you give smarter — and maybe breathe easier.

📌 You'll learn:

• When not to give Maaser — even if it feels wrong
• Why tuition discounts and credit card debt change everything
• What counts as "income" — and what comes off the top
• How donor-advised funds fit into halacha
• The surprising truth about using Maaser for weddings, seminary & babysitting
• Who really comes first when giving tzedaka

⏱️ Episode Breakdown:

• [00:00] — Is student loan repayment Maaser-exempt?
• [01:00] — Meet “The WhatsApp Rabbi”
• [03:55] — Should you give Maaser if you’re in credit card debt?
• [06:31] — Tuition discounts and where your tzedaka must go
• [08:15] — Can you count shul dues or community fees as Maaser?
• [13:37] — What qualifies as “not making ends meet”?
• [15:06] — What counts as standard American debt vs halachic hardship
• [17:34] — Can you take Maaser off after expenses like food and rent?
• [20:54] — Should Maaser come before retirement savings or insurance?
• [25:16] — Income vs revenue: Should you Maaser from gross or net?
• [27:03] — Common deductions: office rent, gas, salaries, babysitting
• [30:28] — Can your suit or car be deducted if it’s for work?
• [32:03] — Student loans revisited: do doctors and PAs get a pass?
• [34:02] — Cleaning help & Shalom Bayis: Halachic grey zones
• [38:27] — Investments: Stocks, mutual funds, and when to Maaser
• [42:15] — Selling couches, flipping homes, and 1031 exchanges
• [43:23] — Donor-advised funds: mutar or pushing off a mitzvah?
• [46:36] — Can you use Maaser to pay for your child’s wedding or seminary?
• [50:57] — Conservative investing with Maaser money
• [55:21] — “Meat in the cholent” stories: inspiring levels of giving
• [59:49] — Giving Maaser without knowing where it’s going
• [1:01:35] — Final halachah: Priority order in tzedaka (family comes first)

🧠 Quote of the Episode:

“If you’re in credit card debt, you should not be giving Maaser.”
“You can’t give someone else’s tzedaka before paying your tuition deduction.”

👤 About the Guest

Rabbi Tzvi Yaakov SteinA noted Posek and Rav, Rabbi Tzvi Yaakov Stein is widely respected for his clarity in halacha and his ability to apply it to real-life scenarios with nuance and precision. Though now famously known as “The Texting Rabbi” for his rapid-fire WhatsApp halachic responses, his reputation was built long before — as a trusted authority in halacha, education, and community leadership.

📄 Download his widely-shared Halacha PDFs:
www.tystein.com/halacha-pdf

💼 About the Host

Moshe Alpert, CLU®, CFP®, ChFC®, RICP®, AEP®
Founder & CEO of Ceremian Financial. Moshe helps families turn complex financial decisions into clear, actionable plans built on values, goals, and real numbers.

🔗 Connect & Subscribe

• 📧 Questions? Email: middleclassalpert@gmail.com
• ⭐️ Leave a 5-star review to help more people find the show
• 🎧 Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts
• 📺 Full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/fuiOe_ObMLg

🎛️ Production Credits

Produced & Edited by: BIG Productions – Gidon Orman
🎙️ Contact: gi@bigprod.net

📌 Hashtags

#TheMiddleClass #Maaser #Tzedaka #JewishMoney #Halacha #FrumFinance #DonorFund #Charity #JewishEconomics # #RabbiStein