Giving Maaser Kesafim Without Having Said Bli Neder

I have been giving maaser kesafim for many years, and was not aware of two recommendations you made in the recent Halacha Yomis installments: 1. Before committing to give maaser kesafim say bli neder to avoid mishaps. 2. Stipulate that money separated for maaser should not have the status of tzedakah until the money is given to the poor. Otherwise one is obligated to donate the money immediately to the poor who seek assistance. Must these stipulations be made only before starting to give maaser kesafim, or can I make them now?

The first stipulation must be made in advance of beginning to give maaser. Once a person gave maaser three times without saying “bli neder,” it is tantamount to having made a vow, and the stipulation will not be effective. Furthermore, if there is a vow in place to give tzedakah, the second stipulation will be of no consequence. (This is because one is obligated to give tzedakah immediately to the poor, in two instances: 1) one vowed to give tzedakah or 2) one has tzedakah funds in his possession, see Yorah Dayah 257:3).

Therefore, before making both stipulations, one should first be matir neder (annul the vow), and then make the two stipulations listed above.

The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.