Paying a School Fine from Maaser Money

My son was fined by his yeshivah for misbehaving. May he pay with ma’aser money?

If a talmid (student) incurs a knas (monetary fine), he might reason that since the money benefits the yeshivah he should be permitted to pay with his ma’aser money. However, the halachah is that ma’aser money may not be used to pay for a chovah (obligation). Since it’s incumbent upon a student to abide by the rules of the yeshivah, any fine resulting from an infraction is his personal responsibility, and must be paid for out of pocket.

It should be noted that if the student is unable to pay the knas, a fellow talmid might be permitted to use his ma’aser money to “bail him out”. Technically, the first talmid could reciprocate at some future time by paying his friend’s knas with his ma’aser money—provided that the two of them hadn’t made such an arrangement in advance. #554?1

 

 

https://halacha2go.com?number=554

Practical Halacha: One minute a day. By Horav Yosef Yeshaya Braun, shlita, Mara D'asra and member of the Badatz of Crown Heights.