[Avodah] Keil Maaleh

[Akiva Miller via Avodah]

R' Joel Rich asked:

<<< Anyone know why the standard practice developed to promise tzedakah
rather than give it prior to our request of HKB"H? >>>

Here's my guess:

What will motivate one to donate beforehand? Emotions run high when the rav
gives his Yizkor drasha (or at least, the emotions *ought* to run high).
It's hard to get into that frame of mind before the event.

This is not like other things where we are sure to prepare in advance, like
preparing our matzos or our sukkah. If someone shows up at the Seder
without matzos, the ramifications will insure that he will certainly
remember next year. But if he arrives at Yizkor (or whenever) and forgot to
donate beforehand, he'll simply promise to give after Yom Tov, and this
b'dieved eventually became the standard.

Akiva Miller
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