Interesting Psak: Matanos LaEvyonim by Credit Card

A tzedaka organization asked Rav Dovid Spektor whether donors who give their matanot laEvyonim for Purim to be distributed by the tzedaka organization are fulfilling their mitzva when the payment is made by credit card.

The question is based on the fact that when paid by credit card, the donor is really only actually paying his donation at the end of the month - after Purim. In the meantime, the money distributed by the tzedaka organization is advanced by the credit card company on behalf of the donor - more like a loan.

So, when making a donation via credit card for matanot laEvyonim, are you fulfilling the mitzva despite not actually paying any money until later?

Rav Spektor answered that this is like the organization lending money to the donor resting assured that the donor will repay it later (at the end of the month).

Rav Spektor compares this situation to other responsa that discuss giving matanot laEvyonim via either a check that does not have funds backing it and the recipient agrees to hold on to the check for a few days until money is deposited to cover the check, while ni the meantime, he floats the loan based on the check. A second comparable responsa is when a check is given on Purim itself and the banks are closed, so technically the check could not be cashed on that day, so it too is like floating a loan based on future payment.

To conclude, Rav Spektor paskens that one has fulfilled his mitzva of Matanot LaEvyonim when donating through a tzedaka organization via credit card, when the tzedaka organization gives out the matanot laEvyonim on Purim itself and the donor covers his credit card debt after Purim.

On that note, don't forget that you are able to make your matanot laEvyonim donations online through Lemaan Achai. They offer two options for matanot laEvyonim:

1. regular matanot laEvyonim, where your donation is distributed to the needy on Purim
2. Smart Matanot LaEvyonim, where you split your donation and mark a portion to be distributed on Purim and a portion to be distributed after Purim.

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