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People often give charity in multiples of 18.

What is the earliest record of such donations?

msh210
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chortkov2
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  • Similar to https://judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/40298/source-for-times-chai. My question is asking for earliest record more than for a source... I know the 'chai' significance.. – chortkov2 Jun 06 '19 at 12:59
  • I don’t understand how this is different from the linked question, which asks for “the source for giving charity of the numeric value of the Hebrew word chai (18) and its multiples.” – DonielF Jun 06 '19 at 13:01
  • Not looking so much for the source (although I added it into the question).. Looking mainly for earliest record of such donations. – chortkov2 Jun 06 '19 at 13:34
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    Charity atones for sinning, so maybe that's why people give away in units of חטא, like ridding oneself of the sins. – Double AA Jun 06 '19 at 13:57
  • @chortkov2 Wouldn’t the source necessarily be the earliest record? – DonielF Jun 06 '19 at 15:40
  • DonielF - No. I highly doubt there will be a legitimate 'source' for the custom, but there may be some records of donations made in multiples of 18 that can help trace how far back the custom goes – chortkov2 Jun 06 '19 at 16:34
  • I note, that Sefardic Jews have a custom of giving in multiples of 26, corresponding to the gematria of the name of Hashem הוי"ה. – IsraelReader Jun 06 '19 at 17:42
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    On a lighter note, the story goes about a Satmar chassid, who gave the Rebbe a donation of $47. When asked about the unusual figure, he answered that it corresponded to the gematria of יוא"ל, which was the rebbes name.The rebbe answered, tongue in cheek, "In the "heim" they called me יואלי"ש!" (gematria 357!) – IsraelReader Jun 06 '19 at 17:43
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    @IsraelReader I met a collector once who calmy said: "I don't want Chai, I want Mes." – David Kenner Jun 06 '19 at 22:41

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