About this episode
Today's daf is sponsored by Miriam & Meir Tannenbaum in honor of the engagement of their son, Avrumy to Rochel Schloss. "With gratitude to Hashem, may they be zoche to build a bayit ne'eman b'yisrael . שירבו שמחות בישראל!" The community can create stipulations for its inhabitants and impose fines on people who do not keep to them. However, a story is brought to teach that if there is a prominent Torah scholar in the town, the conditions must be agreed upon in the presence of the Torah scholar. Tzedaka collectors and Temple treasurers should be trusted and people should not insist they give an accounting of the money collected. But Rabbi Elazar suggests that one giving money to another should count it out in front of the other and tie it up before handing it over. There is a debate about whether one needs to check whether a person is poor before giving money for food or clothing. What does the city need to provide to a poor person who comes into a city for the night or Shabbat? Does the city give from their charity fund to those willing to knock on doors asking for money? It is better to cause others to perform mitzvot than to do mitzvot. In the times of the Temple, the half-shekel payment atoned for the people - today, giving charity has taken the place of that and atones for people's sins. Rav Sheshet stressed the importance of every coin given to charity; many small coins together can add up to a lot. Rabbi Elazar stressed the importance of giving charity in secret. Rabbi Yitzchak used verses from Yeshayahu 58 to show all the blessings bestowed on those who give charity and console those suffering from poverty.