Jerusalem – A popular Sephardic rabbi and radio host on all things Jewish law told his audience that the vast majority of unknown telephone solicitors claiming to be from charities are “crooks” and “thieves” and that they should simply hang up when contacted.
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ISRAELNATIONALNEWS.com (http://bit.ly/1walvjG) reports that during his weekly program on Israel Radio, Rabbi Benzion Mutsafi, warned listeners against the pervasive practice of “auto dialer”—an automated system which dials unsolicited numbers, often with a pre-programmed message offering “blessings” in exchange for donations to a charity—and said that a good rule of thumb is for people to only make donations to charities which they know are legitimate.
“They are crooks trying to fool people,” Rabbi Mutsafi said, while adding that the so-called “institutions” behind the phone calls are “ripping off the public.”
Mutsafi urged Israelis to find poor people and give “directly” to them if they feel the need to donate.
“They are unfortunately not hard to find,” said the rabbi.
Hang up the phone and slam the door in their faces when they come schneuring. Its gotten totally out of control in Brooklyn and Lakewood too. These ganovoim fly over motzi Shabbos into JFK (some flying business class on El Al), they take black cars into the neighborhoods and go door to door with some letter in hand from some rebbele claiming to be caring for starving yasomim in yenavelt and demanding tzadakah. On Thursday they fly back to EY with bags full of dollars laughing all the way to the bank at the dumb and gullible yidden of Brooklyn and Lakewood.
My young daughter is smart enough to already do that. Nebech some people need permission from a ruv to do so.
I think with all the times promised that a Rebbe will davin for you 40 days or whatever
The rebbes minutes are
all used up already.
Just say neon rate Izzy nisht in der heim.
When I build a new Shul in my community, I will have a sign stating “No soliciting funds at any time”. Believe me, it will be enforced by guards, whom I will employ. When we catch meshulachs, solicitors, professional beggars or schnorrers on the premises, they will be asked to leave. If they refuse, they will be physically escorted from the premises. If people wish to come to daven, it is one thing. However, the minute that these solicitors start harassing other Yidden, (especially during davening), and otherwise disrupting the service, they will be shown the door. If enough Shuls in the USA engaged in the above practice, these professional schnorrers would be put out of business.
I’m tired of getting calls about Rubashkin.
Tonight’s call was at 11:00. I’ve complained for four years now.
If you have a half decent looking house, they will curse you if you give the $1, or $5. Give them $50 or $100, and they will complain that its not enough for their needs! I don’t have to pay to be cursed out! A friend of mine was once in a restaurant and he was sitting next to a full table of “regular” shnorrers having a full steak dinner! He was listening in on the conversation, and they were discussing who gives what. One of the schnorrers said “So and so is such a cheapskate, G-d should take him!”
We need more Rabbis to tell their flock
those collectors in black cars going to Brooklyn and Lakewood keep 50% and more for their panasa.I had asked a few how much they keep for themselfs. Its a difficult position
for the giver.
Many years ago I was discussing this with my rabbi and I said “isnt it a shame t hey disturb our shachrit (morning prayers) collecting from aisle to aisle.
Rabbis answer was:
“isnt it a shame they have to collect to survive”
another Rabbi told me:
So if you have suspicions “give them much less but GIVE SOMETHING,even pennies”
MAY WE ALL MERIT TO SEE MASHIACH IN OUR DAYS
Rabbi Wein says the world is divided into givers and takers. Which one would you like to be? Having said that, you need to used common sense. If you are home alone, and are moved to give, put the money through the mail slot, that way, they can’t have a conversation to complain.
The bulk of one’s tzeddaka money should be given to places you know that don’t have someone skimming off the top. Your local yeshivas, shuls, tomchay Shabbos, etc… qualify.
Personally, I never send money to a post office box. It’s a red flag for me. Give your tzeddakah money to your Rav to distribute – he knows who needs it. I am not a rich person, so whatever I give I want it to go to real tzeddakah.
With all this righteous scanning, is it any surprise people are running from the shtetlach?