What Do Jews Say About Tithes & Tithing Today?
Having read the letter, I began to share her concern. To resolve the matter I telephoned three rabbis in the Los Angeles area for their explanation. Much to my dismay, all three independently of each other informed me that no religious Jew should tithe today. I was startled at their replies. This appeared to be evidence that the Jews were so lax with their biblical interpretation that they were abandoning even the simple words of their own Scripture about the laws of tithing. By the time I spoke with the last rabbi, my youthful indignation was beginning to emerge. But that rabbi then wisely began to show me my ignorance (not his) in the whole matter. First, he admitted that none of his congregation paid one penny of the tithe that was demanded in the Old Testament. He then said: “If any member of my synagogue paid tithe in the scriptural manner, he would be disobeying the law of God-he would be sinning against God.” I was staggered by his answer. He went on to inform me that since the
