90–10 Charity Rule

There is a commandment of giving at least 10% to charity.

In Genesis 14:20:

Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

In Genesis 28:22

[Jacob says] And in all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.

In Leviticus 27:30:

A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the L-rd, it is holy to the L-rd.

In general, G-d lets you keep 90% and he commands that you give 10% to charity.

I understand that some righteous people even give 20% of their income to charity.

I learned from Rabbi Yaron Reuven that for those that are miserly and not charitable and don’t tithe, G-d reverses the equation, and He takes back the 90% and lets you keep the 10%.

Very ingenious and where the punishment fits “the crime” so to say.

So what do you want the 90% or the 10% — it’s your choice to give or have it given for you! ;-)

(Credit Graphic: Andy Blumenthal)