Nature of the maaser kesafim obligation: Torah, rabbinic, or custom
Authorities dispute whether tithing income is a Torah law, a rabbinic enactment, or a custom. The practical consensus treats it as a custom or rabbinic-level duty, which matters for resolving doubtful cases. The app presents positions only; consult your rav.
Positions by community
Ashkenazi
Three views: Torah obligation (Tosafos, Taanis 9a, citing the Sifrei on 'aser te'aser'); a binding obligation per the Taz (YD 331:32, chiyuv gamur, commonly classified as rabbinic); a praiseworthy custom per the Bach (YD 331), which is the view most commonly relied upon in practice.
Sephardi
R' Ovadia Yosef (Yechaveh Da'at 3:76) treats maaser kesafim as a minhag/midas chassidus, which permits reliance on lenient opinions in cases of doubt or financial strain.
Chabad
Treated in practice as a binding custom strongly encouraged by the Rebbeim; exact citations (Igros Kodesh vol. 18; Shulchan Menachem vol. 5) pending verification.
Sources
- https://www.sefaria.org/Tosafot_on_Taanit.9a.1 — Tosafot on Taanit 9a:1, s.v. aser te'aser
- https://www.sefaria.org/Turei_Zahav_on_Shulchan_Arukh,_Yoreh_De'ah.331.32 — Taz, Yoreh De'ah 331:32
- https://www.sefaria.org/Bach,_Yoreh_De'ah.331.46 — Bach, Tur Yoreh De'ah 331, s.v. ve-ein nosnin mehem tzedakah
- https://dinonline.org/2017/11/24/maaser-kesafim-obligation-custom-and-virtue/ — Maaser Kesafim: Obligation, Custom and Virtue
Track this for yourself
Tag transactions against rules like this one and see your running maaser balance.
MyMaaser presents sourced halachic positions and is not a substitute for your rav. Consult your rav (CYLOR).