Chicago, IL – Doug Burnett learned the power of vision and charity as a teenager when his parents gave glasses to a friend who couldn’t afford a pair. So when the American Jewish World Service staged a contest for artists to inspire giving, Burnett eagerly accepted the challenge.
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The Chicago art director imagined a 21st-century version of the tzedakah box, the receptacle traditionally used in synagogues to collect donations for the needy.
But Burnett’s concept has become more than a vessel for alms. His endeavor highlights the common ground of two different faiths. While tzedakah is a Jewish tradition, Burnett is Mormon.
Burnett, who served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Uruguay, said that just as studying Spanish improved his English, learning about Judaism strengthened his own faith and gave him a new appreciation for Jewish philanthropies that address poverty around the world.
“The extent to which Judaism has established structure in the world to be on the ground to make a difference, I’m deeply impressed,” Burnett said. “I just wasn’t informed about how they organized the funds that they donate. I certainly have a lot of respect.”
Wait until “Kupat Haiir” gets ahold of this one…(I will let you use your imagination!:)
Mormons are also very charitable themselves, and they help all people of all faiths. Their theology is weird but their works are very good. While Obama gives less than 1% of his money to charity, Romney gives at least 20%, 10% to his church (most of which goes to chesed projects as their clergy take no salary), and 10% to other charities.
Yes, this is brought to you from the same group that ‘Baptises’ dead Yidden.
But our boxes are for the vast majority based on anonymous recipients, being a higher form of tzedekah. I could see maybe a choice of organizations, but a choice of individuals? Just as a Jewish neshama didn’t create this box, a Jewish neshama wouldn’t put this box in their home. This choose-the winner-of-the-gladiator-battle (which kid looks/can look the most pathetic) leaves me very cold.
Such an elaborate box most probably would cost a lot more than our Pushkes do. A pity to spend money on it. By the way the American World Jewish Services is a far left organization. They are too busy trying to save the world to support our crowd.
As a package designer (retired) I find the location of the coin slot to be curious as it implies a negative expectation. It is not possible to fill the box. And the flashy word “exciting” somehow diminishes the holiness of giving and causes the act to be self serving.
I must wonder not about the neshama of the designer but of the people who selected this design.