Poor People's Feast
An ancient custom revived by HaRav Mordechai Eliyahu zt"l — to invite the poor to rejoice with us on our day of celebration, and to merit their blessing
The Story of Reviving the Poor People's Feast Custom
This custom was revived about twenty years ago by Keren HaTzaddik in memory of Rabbi Aryeh Levin zt"l. The leadership of Keren HaTzaddik used to accompany HaRav Mordechai Eliyahu zt"l to the synagogue, and people would come to him for advice along the way.
Once, a Jewish man came and said his daughter was getting married. He asked to share that when he was a child, his grandparents told him that their own parents had said to them before their wedding: "Know that at the wedding, people dressed in rags will come" — and why? So that when you get married, you will always remember that you must give maaser kesafim — ten percent of your income, for the rest of your life.
Because the wedding had 100 guests, as was the custom then to make small weddings, there were 2 tables with 5 poor people at each. And to this day, they remember that they must give maaser every month.
A Jewish man from Ramot in Jerusalem told us that a few years ago he read the story of Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu about reviving the poor people's feast custom, and he wanted to donate as well.
About two weeks before his daughter's wedding, on the very day the bride's father wanted to donate to "Keren HaTzaddik," the groom asked his parents to buy several appliances, the cost of which was exactly equal to the maaser the father had intended to donate for the poor people's feast.
There was a great dilemma whether to give them the appliances and then donate a more modest amount. The groom asked: "Why do we need to give so much to teach us to give maaser?"
Nevertheless, the father decided to give the full amount to the poor people's feast.
"I want you to know," the groom's father told us, "that ever since, every time he speaks with them, he mentions how happy they are that their father gave the full amount. Because every month they make sure to give maaser from their income — thanks to the revival of the poor people's feast by Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu."
A Donation That Saved a Family from Death
A Jewish man from Tzfat called to announce that his daughter was getting married in Petah Tikva. He asked for prayers that he would return home safely, as he knew he would be driving back very late at night.
He made a large donation to the poor people's feast.
On his way back to Tzfat, his eldest son, who was driving, fell asleep at the wheel. The car fell into a ravine in the Galilee hills and rolled down the mountain dozens of meters.
He wrote his email from Ziv Hospital in Tzfat in the morning, after the doctor told him that the entire family came out with no significant injuries, only scratches.
The sides of the car had to be cut open — it had been completely crushed against the rocks. They were traveling in a Mitsubishi L300, a large vehicle. The car flipped and was crushed, and had to be cut open to extract them.
This was an open miracle, and he is certain it was in the merit of his donation to Keren HaTzaddik, and the prayers offered for the groom, the bride, and the family.
The Words of HaRav Mordechai Eliyahu zt"l
HaRav Mordechai Eliyahu zt"l asked the man: "What do you want to do with this story?"
The man replied: "I want to revive the poor people's feast custom and do this at my daughter's wedding."
The Rabbi asked: "Are you willing to have people at the wedding who take food from garbage cans?" The Rabbi said: "The people from Keren HaTzaddik accompany us — give them the donation and they will distribute food to poor families on the day of the wedding."
The Rabbi ruled that it would be proper for every person celebrating a joyous occasion, as part of their wedding preparations, to contact a charity organization that provides food to the poor and donate an amount equal or close to 10% of the number of portions ordered for the wedding feast, for the purpose of a meal for a respectable number of poor people.
Today, when large weddings are held and the value of the maaser equals a very large sum, it has been ruled that each person should give according to their ability.
Today the custom has become established so that anyone holding a brit milah, pidyon haben, bar mitzvah, bat mitzvah, and/or wedding contacts the charity organization Keren HaTzaddik in memory of Rabbi Aryeh Levin zt"l, and donates for the poor people's feast held on that same day.
The distribution is a poor people's feast for needy families with children — as revived by HaRav Mordechai Eliyahu zt"l
The Gaon HaRav She'ar Yashuv Cohen zt"l ruled: leftover food from a wedding is considered a poor people's feast.
By donating the "Poor People's Feast" on your day of joy, you will merit the best advocates and blessings, led by the righteous Rabbi Aryeh Levin zt"l, and the endorsing rabbis: HaRav Mordechai Eliyahu zt"l, Rabbi Aryeh Stern, Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar, Rabbi Simcha HaKohen Kook shlita — and above all, the poor will bless you and your family with all their hearts for all the good blessings and for true and complete happiness.
Poor People's Feast Calculator
As taught by the revival of HaRav Mordechai Eliyahu zt"l — 10% of the celebration expenses
Maaser amount for the Poor People's Feast (10%)
Each person gives according to their ability
Donate a Fixed Amount
Choose the amount that suits you — donations go toward a poor people's feast for needy families with children
Invite the Poor to Rejoice with You
Brit milah, pidyon haben, bar/bat mitzvah, wedding — at every celebration you can merit the great mitzvah of the poor people's feast and their heartfelt blessings.