Where should a Jew's maaser money go? Can you give to any organization just because it's Jewish, or must you verify they're teaching authentic Torah and bringing people to teshuvah? Rebbe Nachman says giving to the wrong place is like wasting seed - you think you did a mitzvah but you actually caused damage.

Rebbe Nachman warns: Giving maaser to organizations not promoting authentic Torah or true teshuvah is a grave error, wasting divine blessing and incurring punishment. You are obligated to diligently investigate that your funds genuinely bring Jews closer to HaShem through authentic Torah and repentance, not merely supporting secular events or heresy. Your spiritual state directly influences whether your donations are divinely guided to righteous causes (learning Torah, saving souls) or inadvertently support destructive ones. Therefore, prioritize giving the bulk of your maaser to your primary source of spiritual growth and Torah nourishment; your donations are a report card from Heaven.