[Avodah] Torah Institutions = Tzeddakah?

[regalkit at aol.com]

regalkit at aol.com wrote:
> I don't know if this was discussed in the past, however I was wondering 
> if anyone knows the source for calling Torah Institution donations 
> tzeddakah?

Zev Sero responded:
No, it's not tzedakah in the strict sense.  But today the word "tzedaka"
in common usage means any worthy cause, any mitzvah, whether it's actual
tzedaka or talmud torah or other mitzvos.   In part this comes from our
minhag to give maaser, which can be used not just for mitzvat tzedaka
but also for any other mitzvah or good cause.  So all of those get lumped
under the term tzedaka, which they are in a broader and more vague sense.

Frankly, as no one disputed your interpretation of tzedakah, it would seem
?that there would be universal agreement to this definition among the group 
here. In other words most people (AFAIK most lump all charity together)
?mistakenly feel that they are obligating their ?Mitzvah of Tzedakah  
with donations to all charitable causes, thinking that all the benefits 
linked with the giving of Tzedakah are theirs as a result of their charity donations.

Binyomin Hirsch


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