New York – ‘Kupat Ha’ir’ Rabbis As A Marketing Tool, Lends Credence, Truth To The Cynicism That Torah Scholars Are For Sale

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    New York – It is not my usual practice to criticize organizations (and certainly not individuals) by name.

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    However, organizations, by their very nature, must be open to public criticism, and when their practices are cause for serious concern it behooves us to raise and address these concerns so that we can make informed decisions.

    I have long been rubbed the wrong way by the way Kupat Ha’ir, a tzedaka organization in Israel, promotes itself.

    For one thing, all those glossy newspaper inserts and large ads it continuously produces aren’t cheap.

    I wonder who’s paying for that.

    If it’s money from regular donations (as opposed to donations specifically earmarked for promoting the organization) then many donors would think twice if they knew that a sizable percentage of their donation wasn’t going to feed orphans, but merely to rope in the next round of donors –– whose money, in turn, would be doing more of the same.

    Even more troubling is the marketing devices this organization employs to sway people to send in money.

    It goes beyond the usual vapid yet melodramatic endorsements that normally accompany these types of advertisements.

    Like sports drinks showing celebrity athletes drinking the product, Kupat Ha’ir features celebrity rabbis donating money to them.

    What’s next, pizza stores demonstrating the ultimate “standards” in kashrus by showing celebrity rabbis taking a bite? Today, anyone who has any ideas about producing a product for sale in the Jewish community knows that there is nothing more important than garnering a murderer’s row of rabbinic endorsements, even if all he’s selling is a pot holder.

    When rabbis are reduced to mere marketing devices, then something is wrong with the rabbinic establishment and our relationship to it.

    Editors Note: Warning: if you are highly sensitive and parrot the notion that certain rabbis are beyond reproach or even mere question simply because some people say so, then please do NOT read any further. You shouldn’t be on the Internet, anyway.

    Such shenanigans lend credence truth to the cynicism about Torah and its scholars being for sale, and only perpetuate a society of followers that live in blissful, willful ignorance.

    Considering the madness that surrounds us, however, these tactics alone are worthy of only mild scorn and irritation.

    Unfortunately, it gets much worse.

    If you’ve ever troubled yourself to read their advertising, you know that their strongest push to donate is the miracle card.

    You know, “JM” from Bnei Brak donated $40 and her tumor disappeared, that sort of thing.

    I lose all respect for them right there.

    This is nothing but an attempt to prey on people’s fear, ignorance, and hope, to tap into the most primitive aspects of the human psyche.

    Of course we are supposed to believe that all these predictable, wondrous stories are 100 percent true.

    We are also supposed to be motivated to give tzedaka nowadays because we need money, a shidduch, or a cure (which is acceptable but certainly not laudatory or ideal).

    But here’s the thing: the clear implication is that we are supposed to give tzedaka to THEM, because they have the miracle backing.

    If you give your tzedaka elsewhere then all bets are off.

    It’s little different than those advertisements for wonder drugs, or sports drinks.

    Then again, those advertisements come with disclaimers like “results may vary.” No such disclaimer here.

    They’re careful not to outright promise that you’ll get what you wish for, but they take full credit for so-called miracles that supposedly happen to donors.

    (Like saint-seeking Christians, they are also quite liberal in their definition of “miracles” as referring to most any happy occurrence.) In so doing they have created the perfect situation for themselves (not dissimilar to what shadchanim do, by the way).

    If things work out well, it’s because of us.

    If they don’t work out well, it must be your fault.

    If you donate a few bucks and your three spinster daughters get engaged within four days, it’s because you donated a few bucks.

    If you donate a few bucks and life goes on as before, well, tough luck.

    Maybe you should have donated more, or davened harder, or performed some other sorcery in conjunction to manipulate the spiritual forces in your favor.

    Give us the credit for “success.” but keep the blame for “failure” all to yourself.

    Best of all, this marketing gimmick is impossible to disprove.

    After all, can you know for certain that supposed miracles are fabricated, or, if true, are really unrelated to the giving of a donation? Of course not.

    So you might as well give them money just to cover your bases, because it MIGHT be true.

    Even if you don’t see immediate results, you MIGHT have helped bring your salvation closer, or, at the very least, prevented things from getting worse.

    This can’t be disproved.

    And when enough people give and good things happen to some of them, the marketing train only picks up more steam.

    You can’t prove it’s not true, and it just MIGHT have something to it, so why not give? You might be the next one to hit the jackpot.

    Plus, look at those pictures of nice old rabbis.

    In all fairness, Kupat Ha’ir is far from the most serious offender when it comes to dubious promises of salvation, but they are certainly the most prominent.

    Were it for this alone I would not have singled them out for this article.

    However, they recently put out a publication that is so full of downright frightening social implications, so full of messages that contradict Torah values and common sense itself that I must question the very credibility of this organization and the leaders who are associated with it, however prominent and popular they may be.


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    137 Comments
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    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Chananya Weissman is the founder or endthemadness.org. He is not an accepted authority by any rabbonim, and has criticized the establishment many times. He believes he can do better, but his solutions have yielded no results. For Vos Iz Neias to give him a mouthpiece is a shanda.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    About time someone speaks up about it. But no, Lipa is more important.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    All I can say is you are corageous to write such an article. You have no basis for your accusations. To out and out condemn the work of the gidolei hador is complete and utter chutzpa. WHO ARE YOU????? AND WHO CARES WHAT YOU SAY OR THINK???? Bottom line is for every dollar that this orginization doesn’t recieve because of this article you will be responsible!!A heavy burden to carry I would say.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I read the post and agree with many of the concerns; I bet they were discussed in many shuls during talking.

    I might disagree with the writer assuming a high cost to the glossy prints and mags. I always assumed that somebody might be a ben Torah that offered to do photoshop at no cost or low cost. (The actual cost of all that photoshop is only time and about three cents worth of electricity.) The printing cost might be less tha you think, think actual cost, not what a printer might want to charge in his dreams.

    We all think some of the stories are over the top and we all think that it is a dangerous thing to think “let me just give th money and a miracle will happen.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    some good points coming from the wrong person

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    All I can say is you are corageous to write such an article. You have no basis for your accusations. To out and out condemn the work of the gidolei hador is complete and utter chutzpa. WHO ARE YOU????? AND WHO CARES WHAT YOU SAY OR THINK???? Bottom line is for every dollar that this orginization doesn’t recieve because of this article you will be responsible!!A heavy burden to carry I would say.

    No, you’re wrong. The gedolim of our generation are being raped day in and day out by these ppl and those who tried to shut Lipa down. These idiots try to use the influence of the rabbonim without their permission or knowledge in order to acheive their goals. If that’s the type of ppl you want to associate yourself with, please go ahead. I will choose to associate myself with honest ppl. These ppl are dishonest, liars, fakers, frauds and everything in between, as was evident from the Lipa fiasco.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Very well written, this has been an issue that I discuss when I’m with friends and family and this has been bothering me for years. What I find even more interesting is the fact that most of the rabbonim that are being used for this tzedaka propoganda are from Eretz Yisroe, sounds like another Kol Koreh…..

    bigwheeel
    bigwheeel
    15 years ago

    It’s like a Tzedaka Ponzi game! Or Tzedaka Amway!

    One significant incentive (enticement) that the author [of article] failed to enumerate is; graphically showing the “Grab-Bag” of goodies that is awaiting the [big] donor!

    yid
    yid
    15 years ago

    Just to add to your list . Most of the pictures they show the public are all doctored and photo shopped which goes into the avaira of genavas dass

    poiu
    poiu
    15 years ago

    Kupat Ha’ir’ what a joke

    nachman
    nachman
    15 years ago

    Lipa is an issue that should be addressed. His muusic is in part responsible for the decline in warmth to yiddishkeit as well as for the degradation of YIDDISHE music.Not to mention, the link betweeen his music and juvenile delinquency. IT IS A FACT and cannot be argued. Nevertheless, you are on target, and organizations should be under scrutiny since they are using the public’s money and trust.

    IT’S ABOUT TIME

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I don’t quite understand all the fuss. The whole point is money for tzedakah. The more you spend on advertisements, the more you get for tzedakah sometimes. Nothing wrong with that. I really don’t see the problem.

    S>E>L>
    S>E>L>
    15 years ago

    You are WRONG! These great Rabbanim have been m’vater on there kavod because of the great need for Tzedaka. This is not something that they do easily, but like all Gedolai Yisroel, they are mekabel the “busha” and allow themselves to be photographed putting money in the pusha. They feel, and rightly so, that this way more tzidaka money will come in. Do you really think that The Rabbanim are involvedin the layout and articles attached? There concern is TZEDAKA only.

    May you never be at the recieving end where you have to cry and beg for handouts. You realy should retract this scathing letter.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    SEL- How do you know what they were mvatter? Have you ever asked any of these rabbonim? Have you ever asked any rabbonim anything at all? Don’t seem like it because if you did you would know that they get very disturbed when they find out that their names have been associated with dishonest conduct.

    lavdafka
    lavdafka
    15 years ago

    ANYONE: Do you think someone is making big bucks on a kupat haeer payroll too be this ambitious with this super-high-end marketing ?

    (now that the cover is blown too bad on kupat haeer the fat days are over.. )

    -L davka

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    The qquestions raised should be addressed.

    However, I do wonder if 1) the tactics used are from the organization itself or some outside advertising agency/fundraising consultant (same re other charities) and 2) if the Rabbis know about the tactics.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I think there must be a distinction between communal organizations, where (hopefully) no inividual benefits directly from the money to Yeshivos and some family run organizations where positions and power are given to a select few, usually family members. From what I’ve read, Kupat Ha’ir is a true public charity and although the marketng methods used may be questioned, the overall intergrity of the organization seems and is hopefully pure.

    Ira
    Ira
    15 years ago

    to the ignorant dope that said lipa music leads to juvenile delinquency that is the reverse they will listen to jewish music with a good message instead of non jewish music with a very bad mesage you are pure fantic I feel bad for your kids.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I think Kupat Ha’ir should recategorize there slogan and say: Tzedaka to feed the printers and publications.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    The person who wrote this article has shown that he has absolutly no knowledge in the fundraising/organization world, and doesn’t know a thing about Kupat Hair. I am not a spokesman for Kupat Hair, neither do I work for them, and I do not represent them in any way.

    1) I am active in a well known organization, one that is very important and crucial for the jewish people, but when it comes to money (that is desperatelly needed as in every other organization) people don’t know what it involves (or don’t wanna know), and therefore the only way to keep an organization running without going into heavy debt is only with intensive fundraising. Unfortunately what used to be the once upon a time fundraising, the modest way has stopped talking to people, and in these modern times the fundraising had to be upgraded to a certain level that was never used before, and each organization has to be looking for the most exotic methods to get the money.

    (to be continued)

    Yossi Gordon
    Yossi Gordon
    15 years ago

    Who cares what he says? I DO.

    Unlike all you cowards that are afraid to sign their names to their opinions, he has the guts to say what needs to be said!

    Too many scams go by without comment, and eventually all of them will result in a major chilul Hashem.

    Oorah, Chai rotel, et al all take advantage of the gullible by pushing a new Judaism that substitutes donations to the right place for tefillah and chesed. And the “right place” is itself dubious.

    When this happened to Christianity, Martin Luther came along to protest. Judaism needs- badly- his counterpart to prevent our religion from becoming one where you “pay” a rabbi to cure cancer!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    2) I have spoken to many Askanim in Israel which have spoken great things about Kupat Hair, they told me they heard from the mouths of the Rabbanim that they themselves overlook Kupat Hair’s projects, so before you talk know the facts…I also never believed all the stories I have seen in all those pamphlets (and many other organizations), But I don’t feel it has to be spoken out, if you don’t think those stories are true keep it to yourself. Have you ever spoken out against all those Novels sold at the book stores, if thats how they feed

    Leah
    Leah
    15 years ago

    We must remember that tzadaka shoeld first be given to the ppl. in our own city, state ect.

    Most ppl have x amount of money set aside for tzadaka and if all goes to Israeli functions (and most of that goes on heavy adverisement,and a big percent to the fundraiser himself)then what will stay for Americans poor, yeshivos, hatzola, and other very important organizations we all need and rely on.

    Let everyone give what is close to their heart and community and not to the best advertised organization, and may Hashem send yeshuos to all who give and daven with all their heart!

    Tina
    Tina
    15 years ago

    I doubt these gedolim even know they are used for marketing purposes – I actually think the article made some very fair points

    Joel
    Joel
    15 years ago

    I know that they are paying for the Hamodia $4500 every time they do a insert. The question is on the Hamodia as well how can they charge so much $ from “Hekdesh” money??????????????

    anonymous
    anonymous
    15 years ago

    Reb Chananya says what needs to be said. Rabbonim were brought off to make badns and strupid machaos like the lipa thing and look what happened – people respect them less.

    Bravo to Rabbi weissman for stepping up and pointing out the obvious.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    cont.

    Yesomim and Almanos then we should be ashamed of ourselves that these are the only ways they are fed.

    3) Who gave you the right to accuse them of wasting their money for printing etc., when you don’t know it for a fact. Even though I think that there’s absolutly no problem if that will raise more money, how do you know that they don’t have a special contributor for this purpose (as the organization I am involved in has)?!

    I think the answer is that you are looking for excuses so you don’t have to give Tzedaka. Don’t fool yourself in Olam Habah that excuse will get you no place. I’m sure you’re one of the people who have a load of critic for every org. out there. Hatzalah we don’t need, how much more people died fifty years ago already and so on…

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Of course,it’s not a legitimate tzedakah-legitimate tzedakas have CHINESE AUCTIONS!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    In all due respect to the Gedolim who are used to help the various Tzedkahs.We do not see the generation of the Satmar Rav or Rav Moshe doing such a thing.

    This is just an observation.I think the writer wants to bring out that point.we must be very careful how Tzedkahs are being presented in the public eye.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I fully agree with the Writer and have expressed so many times. But surprise! my typical yeshivashe 15 year old who studied nothing an entire year said if he gets an 80 or above on his Global Regents he will give $25 to Kupat HaIr. he got exactly an 80! (I guess he wasn’t sharp enough to increase his pledge for higher marks.) I tell you – that’s a miracle!

    lavdafka
    lavdafka
    15 years ago

    Comm’on …Can we hear it from someone at kupat haeer!!! Let’s hear it from you! defend yourself!!

    Is it silence on the other end????

    -L davka

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Where does the Lipa ban come in here? What does the support of some highly respected Rabbanim for this organization do to make them less, do you know that Rabbanim of previous generations went begging for money for years to support the needy, read some history…

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    i have never written a comment on this web site but after seeing this article i must. i have been to rav shteinman house numerous times in bnei brak and im pretty sure the only tzedakah box he has around him is for kupat hair. so unless you think your qualified to question one of gedolim hador, which i can tell you with complete confidence you wouldnt be qualified to question someone that was 1/1,000,000 of rav shtienman without exaggerating.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    sometimes you might have valid points, however one must think is it worth risking “olam habah”? have you ever approached one of those gedolim to get an answer or perhaps an explanation? or do you really care for the poor but feel that your criticism is so critical that you find no other way to prove your points even if risking that people might stop their support for this organization? I believe that “is din veis dayan” ! in order to gain some recognition you’re ready to risk your “chelek leolam haba”??

    anonymous
    anonymous
    15 years ago

    because the lipa ban is a perfect example of rabbonim doing things without thinking because people with money influence them to

    devorah
    devorah
    15 years ago

    I dont get this post. Everyone knows that this is a very, very chosheve tzedaka, and all the Gedoilim from all walks of orthordoxy support it. If R’ Chaim Kaniviersky and others takes his time out to meet the (unpaid) gabboim of this organization, there must be something in it (and indeed all the tzedakas he meets). Do you ever go to Israel and see the utter aniyus and oremkeit? Both by Bnei Torah and working people and also non-religous the matzav is terrible. Almost 45% of the population cant make it to the end of month. Many business’s do not pay on time because the next guy cant pay them!!

    The Gedoilim have given special berachos then to people that support such tzedakas (Have you never heard of giving to R” Meir Baal Haness in a time of Tzara???) That really help the Klal?

    I think the writer should go to Israel and see the matzav there in persona nd then pen some words to help our brothers on the front lines.

    The poor of Israel are the Army of Hashem! Suffering daily, the Bnei Torah are the infantrymen – and the Generals are the Gedoilim whom are working and raising money for the Army of Hashem.

    Now we should be supporting the efforts of such a noble cause instead of knocking it. After all, all the Gedoilim are doing is trying to help Acheinu Bnei Israel.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    To Yossi Gordon:

    Oorah is not a questionable organization. For starters they run an amazing girls and boys camp.

    The counselors keep in contact with the campers year round. They do not get paid for this.

    To keep such an outstanding camp in business costs huge bucks.

    Please don’t knock something you know nothing about. Oorah does not deserve to lose money because of you.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I am definately put off by the fancy booklet and when it comes to making a decision where I will give I dont give to them b/c I assume if they can pqay for that they are well funded.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    May I like to know if all you hocking ever gave to any Tzveck or every one isn’t good enough for you?!

    wow
    wow
    15 years ago

    vin news GOOD JOB!! expose more fraud in the non profit groups!! make sure all of these get exposed so we all stop giving tzeduka

    Great job

    sikOFuGUYZ
    sikOFuGUYZ
    15 years ago

    If I would have to actually explain to anybody how ridiculess these acusations are-they don’t deserve to know! The chutspa of the article-hashem will punish him for even attempting to slander the most holy of our generation- so why should I even get worked up? “Celebrity”!?…ehh…one sick puppy!

    A Yid
    A Yid
    15 years ago

    from all the discosting articles that i have read this goes on the top of the list.

    how can you compere miracles from giving tzedakah

    to Christians promising miracles;how can you compere rabbis endorsing a tzedakah to endorsing pizza.

    kupas hair doesn’t promise miracles nor do they say that ONLY if you give them miracles happen, they are simply saying that people who gave them money have seen miracles and if you don’t believe that you are a old fashioned APIKOIRES open a chumash and a Talmud and you will see that tzedakah DO make miracles of course it doesn’t ALLWAYS happen but it does happen.

    now rabbis are maybe being used for the wrong thinks ,but this is the worst example you could have picked.

    The worst part of it is , because you want to be able to write something cute on vos is neias there’s gonna be less bread and milk on the table of poor families in Eretz Yisroel.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    No one should be coerced into donating to anyone for any reason. Everyone should give tzedaka according to his means, and according to his wishes.

    Everyone knows that it is a segula to donate to Reb Meir Baal Hanes without their placing huge colorful brochures in every home.

    If everyone would just take care of one poor relative or family member, or one person that they know well in the community, without going through the “agent” or middlemen, all the money goes directly to feed the hungry, and not to line the pockets of the administrators, so that they can fly all over the world, and stay in hotels while collecting huge sums of money from innocent naive (and very wealthy) people.

    We need to hope and pray that our tzedaka dollars go where they are really 100% used by the right people.

    I once heard that honestly earned money goes to honestly deserved charity, and vice versa.

    I read the brochure, laughed it off, and threw it in the garbage.

    I donate huge sums of money yearly to whomever and wherever I think the money will do the most good. When I know my money goes to a family of 12 that live in 2 and a half rooms, I dont need an organization in the middle. We can all find proper places to donate our money. We dont need stories of miracles.

    I see miracles every day in my life, and I have been priveleged to see huge miracles, all without ever donating to Kupat Hair.

    So I thank C Weissman for telling it like it is, and as the old saying goes, you can fool some of the people some of the time, but you cant fool them all the time.

    Nor do you need to threaten or bribe someone in order to get them to give to your causes.

    There are so many charlatans out there…….so caution is in order.

    Thank you Vos IZ Neias for printing the REAL news, not the stuff fed to us by the many Jewish publications.

    rebbe
    rebbe
    15 years ago

    Lipa is an issue that should be addressed. His muusic is in part responsible for the decline in warmth to yiddishkeit >>>>>>>>>>>>

    ____________

    Here we go again with balming others but yourself.

    YOU as a consumer decide what YOU bring into your home and NOT lipa.

    Stop blmaing internet, radio, tv, movies and all the other garbage out there. IT IS UP TO YOU THE WAY YOU WANT TO TEACH YOUR CHILDREN.

    YOU sound like the liberals who like to blame society problems on everything and everybody else but themselves.

    There are many issues that are brought up here and many times all arguments can be somewhwat right but after 120 years you can’t go tell go–d that all your aveiros was Lipas fault or it was kupat haiir fault and whoever else you have on your short list.

    The problems we face today is YOUR fault so stop looking at everyon else like it is only them.

    And to prove this point of complaining and looking at everyone else i will give you a few examples.

    Many people complain about the high cost of bungalows but when you ask them why they are going up to the mountains these complainers tell you “they have to…..”

    People complain about tuition but somehow they have 8,000 to throw away in 8 weeks for a one bedroom aprtment with mosquitos and a door that keeps on braking. Would you spend 52,000 a year for a one bedroom apartment in Boro park? So why do we get so stupid in the summer? ALL of a sudden we all get stupid with money when the weather gets hot.

    People complain about gasoline being to high. Have you changed your dricing habbits? Most people in the frum community have not changed one thing and still drive the car 4 blocks to go to shul and circle around the block 50 times until they find a spot.

    And for the people always complaining baout money, why is it that you keep on eating out at restaurants? We can go on and on about all the stupid things WE CAN CONTROL but like to blame others for.

    get the point?

    It’s very easy to balme LIPA, Rabanim, Kupat haiir……Buy yourself a mirror and look into it and say that’s the person that needs to change.

    And one more thing, the definition of insanity is doing the same stupid thing over and over again and expecting different results.

    STOP BLAMING OTHERS FOR YOUR PROBLEMS.

    (Mechanach)

    Yodea Sefer
    Yodea Sefer
    15 years ago

    RE Anon

    Listening to Lipa now.

    stop slamming him.

    I bet you dont get the Lyrics.

    Geekster
    Geekster
    15 years ago

    It’s not like it’s a majorly glossy booklet, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. It seems like a pretty cheapy insert, if you ask me.

    If those pics of Gedolim were indeed photoshopped and doctored up, then it’s outright lying, and some REAL askonim should bring it to these Gedolim’s attention for a change. Remember, R’ Aharon ZT”L wouldn’t allow trees to be drawn in front of BMG in a fundraising booklet for the Yeshivah since they really didn’t have any. Emes should mean something even for a good cause, ya know?

    Some people should be barred from blogging in general (“A Yid” comes to mind) until they pass some high school spelling tests. (On Jewish blogs, we’ll accept a 5th grade level)

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    How stupid to make comments like “Hashem will punish him” for writing this article. Since when are you privy to who Hashem punishes and it’s disgusting that you wish that on someone.

    As to the subject matter – it is true that Kupat Ha’ir is a valid and good Tzedaka (even though they were created on the tailcoats of Vaad HaRabbanim’s success – copycats!). Yet, the writer is correct in that it demeans the Gedolim, and cheapens the Mitzva of Tzedaka. But if that is what our generation has come to, that modern sales tactics are needed to raise funds – then nebech so be it.

    In Eretz Yisroel they say that when there is chalila a tragedy, that a father r”l passes away, the pamphlets and fliers will show a picture of the father and of the children at the levaya. If however it is the mother that r”l passes away – you can’t show a picture of a woman – so they put the picture of a Godol instead. How cheap!

    Maybe the Tzedaka organizations will take heed, notice the disgust of the Olam, and water down the content and pictures. Just talk about the Mitzva.

    bnei brak yid
    bnei brak yid
    15 years ago

    Anonymous Says:

    i have never written a comment on this web site but after seeing this article i must. i have been to rav shteinman house numerous times in bnei brak and im pretty sure the only tzedakah box he has around him is for kupat hair. so unless you think your qualified to question one of gedolim hador, which i can tell you with complete confidence you wouldnt be qualified to question someone that was 1/1,000,000 of rav shtienman without exaggerating.

    06-25-2008 – 10:09 PM

    ==========================================

    Dont hock a kup. Kupat hair pushka is NOT the only he has by him. Next time u go there ask him what other pushkas he has in his home. Just for the record . Most of the pictures they show the public are all doctored and photo shopped which goes into the avaira of genavas dass

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I think that the people writing all the moifsim are not really trying to con us with those, but rather they really believe it.

    However, you can of course argue, if they’re this stupid to believe all that, then it’s not really a good idea to trust them with your money…

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    The problem is when people write the promotional material for kupas hoir after drinking chai rotel. Then is the time for Oorah !