Is there a prescribed amount or a specific time of year that one should be donating to charity or those less fortunate than one’s self?
Generally, one should donate at least 10% of one’s earnings to charity (assuming one isn’t struggling to put food on one’s table). The days of judgment, i.e. Rosh Hashanah – Yom Kippur, are an especially auspicious time to donate money to the poor. Charity is one of the ways to merit a good year, as expressed in the prayers of the High Holidays.
If I might suggest.. here’s an excellent organization run by a close friend. 100% of all funds raised go to the poor without any overhead or salaries taken: http://www.chickensforshabbos.com/
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Rabbi Meir Goldberg,
Maimonides Leaders Fellowship,
Rutgers Jewish Xperience