What is maaser money? מעשר כספים

The tenth

Maaser (מעשר) means "a tenth." Maaser kesafim is the practice of giving one tenth of your income to tzedaka — to those in need and to the institutions that sustain Jewish life. It is one of the oldest recorded Jewish practices: Avraham gave a tenth to Malki-Tzedek (Bereishis 14:20), and Yaakov vowed, "whatever You give me, I will surely tithe a tenth to You" (Bereishis 28:22).

How it works

The widespread practice: take what you earned, subtract what it cost you to earn it, and give a tenth of what remains. Income includes salary, business profit, and significant gifts. The expenses that come off are the costs of producing the income itself — not the costs of living. Many people keep a simple running ledger: income in, gifts out, and the tenth owed always visible.

The promise

Tzedaka is the one mitzvah where the Torah invites us to test the promise. "Bring the full tithe... and test Me now with this, says Hashem — if I will not open for you the windows of heaven" (Malachi 3:10). The Gemara (Taanis 9a) reads the verse "aser te'aser" (Devarim 14:22) as "aser bishvil shetisasher" — give a tenth, so that you will become wealthy.

A tenth is the floor, not the ceiling

The Rambam (Mishneh Torah, Gifts to the Poor 7:5) describes three measures: giving a fifth of one's income is the choicest way (mitzvah min hamuvchar); one tenth is the ordinary measure; less than that is considered ungenerous. Giving a fifth is called chomesh.

Common questions

Is maaser an obligation or a custom?

Authorities differ on whether maaser kesafim is a Torah obligation, a rabbinic one, or a binding custom — but across all views it is the accepted baseline practice of Jewish giving. For how it applies to you, ask your rav.

Do I give maaser on gifts and inheritance?

Common practice is to give maaser on significant money that comes in, including gifts and inheritance, according to many opinions. Details vary — ask your rav.

This guide shares sources, not rulings. For your own situation, ask your rav.

Sources: Rambam — Gifts to the Poor 7 · Chumash — Bereishis (Yaakov's vow, 28:22) · The Rebbe's letters on tzedaka

Keep learning: What is chomesh? · Is maaser on gross or net income? · Aser bishvil shetisasher

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