Tithing and Tax Reform

The recent tax reform proposals by the Republican Congress and a recent public Torah reading made me think about tithing.  In one of the first verses in Saturday's Torah reading Vayeitzei ((Jacob) departed from …), the Jewish Patriarch Jacob promises G-d a tenth of everything G-d gives him after waking up from his dream. Bereishis Rabbah (a collection of rabbinical interpretations) interpret this as meaning that Jacob pledged not only to give a tenth of his earnings, but also a tenth of his sons

The recent tax reform proposals by the Republican Congress and a recent public Torah reading made me think about tithing.  In one of the first verses in Saturday's Torah reading Vayeitzei ((Jacob) departed from …), the Jewish Patriarch Jacob promises G-d a tenth of everything G-d gives him after waking up from his dream. Bereishis Rabbah (a collection of rabbinical interpretations) interpret this as meaning that Jacob pledged not only to give a tenth of his earnings, but also a tenth of his sons…