Giving Tzedaka at Night

Although not too widely known, according to kabbala one should avoid giving tzedaka at night, as night is a time of "strict judgment" and "anger".[1] The source for this idea derives from an enigmatic story found in the Talmud.[2] The Talmud relates that Rav Chanina bar Papa once went out at night in order to distribute tzedaka to the poor. As he continued on his way he encountered a demon who confronted him demanding to know what right he had to trespass on "his" territory. Rav Chanina replied with the verse “A gift in secret overturns anger”.[3]

There are number of interpretations offered in order to better understand this mysterious passage. Some explain that what took place was actually the demon chastising Rav Chanina for walking alone at night when destructive spirits roam freely, thereby putting himself in danger. Rav Chanina answered that he was aware of this concern though he was relying on his mitzva mission to protect him from any harm. It is also explained that the demon was trying to convey to Rav Chanina that tzedaka does not have the power to arouse Divine mercy or assistance at night as it does during the day. As such, he was negligent for taking to the streets at night thinking that the mitzva of tzedaka would protect him. Apparently Rav Chanina disagreed with this premise and felt that the mitzva of tzedaka was indeed able to afford him with the necessary protection.[4]

It is taught that the Arizal was especially particular not to give tzedaka at night. For example, while he would always give tzedaka before praying Shacharit or Mincha, he would not do so before the Maariv service. The Arizal felt that the since nighttime is mystically identified with strict judgment it is inconsistent with the mitzva of tzedaka which represents kindness and mercy. He was also of the opinion that performing the mitzva of tzedaka at night has the power to arouse unwanted spirits.[5] As such, one is able to better maximize one's mitzva potential by performing the mitzva of tzedaka by day rather than at night.

Nevertheless, one must be careful never to confuse halachic principles with kabbalistic considerations. It is completely permissible to give to charity at night and the preference not to do so is only in a situation of "all things being equal". However, one who is faced with the opportunity of performing the mitzva of tzedaka at night, such as one who is approached by a hungry individual requesting money for food, is required to give that person tzedaka and one receives credit for doing so, accordingly.[6] Although the kabbalistic teaching of avoiding giving tzedaka at night certainly has merit, it does not supersede the biblical requirement to assist a needy person.[7]

Other authorities teach that, since we are not on the exalted spiritual level of the Arizal and his contemporaries who were able to fulfill mitzvot with kabbalistic precision, the idea of not giving tzedaka at night is no longer applicable today.[8] Indeed, most contemporary halachic authorities dismiss all of the concerns discussed above and encourage one to distribute tzedaka at night no differently than one does during the day.[9] Those who are particular not to give tzedaka at night are nevertheless permitted to separate their tzedaka money at night in preparation for distribution the next day.[10] One may also tend to one's tzedaka bookkeeping, accountings, and management at night.[11] So too, money given at night can be regarded as a "gift" and not a component of one's formal tzedaka allocations.[12]

[1] Shulchan Aruch Ha'arizal 235:2; Siddur Beit Yaakov, Maariv.

[2] Shekalim 15a.

[3] Mishlei 21:14.

[4] Maharsham 2:43.

[5] Birkei Yosef, OC 235; YD 247:2.

[6] Chinuch 479; B'tzel Hachachma 5:143; Teshuvot V'hanhagot 1:566.

[7] Devarim 15:7,8.

[8] Afrakasta D'anya, YD 3:181; Chaim Sha'al 2:25.

[9] Minhagei Chatam Sofer 1:7; Yabia Omer, YD 9:15.

[10] B'tzel Hachachma 3:32.

[11] Afrakasta D'anya, YD 3:181.

[12] B'tzel Hachachma 5:143; Darchei Chaim Veshalom 319.