Friday, July 29, 2011

Another useless organisation bites the dust

Guest Post:


By Nosson Tittein - the Meshulach's friend

Without the publicity, pomp and ceremony that Jewish News readers were subjected to at its launch, Melbourne's 'meshulach vetting inspectorate', with the truly insulting name "Chesed Foundation" has given up the ghost. 

We say 'insulting' name, because it was everything BUT Chesed. Nebechdigeh meshulochim who detested the unpleasant time-wasting chore of applying, proving themselves worthy and qualifying for this almost-useless certificate, often had to go back a number of times before being 'zocheh' to a scrap of paper attesting that they were 'genuine' aniyim.

As any meshulach will tell you, B''H, nearly all of Melbourne's baalei tzedaka were disinterested in the 'recommendation' of this "Foundation" and brushed aside the certificate if presented. Additionally, those Rabbonim in town - who have any feeling for the mitzvah of tzedaka - were totally against it. They wanted no part in creating an extra burden for Yidden who have more than enough tzaros and issues already.

The probing and interrogating was especially painful and humiliating for people who until recently were themselves hardworking, self-supporting and 'baalebatish". Due usually to circumstancses beyond their control they find themselves in a situation of having to ask for help. To submit and force such people to grovel and plead their case before some self-appointed verifying 'gvir' who probes into their personal woes, was very often humiliating and degrading.

After the AJN published Shimon Allen's comments regarding the need to vet collectors, a meshulach responded with a letter to the editor where he clearly shows all that was wrong with the concept.
CLICK TO ENLARGE
I have no idea why S Allen and Co have decided to close down this operation. Was it because they too finally grasped that it wasn't mentchlich to add shame and pain to unfortunate and pitiable persons? Or have they come to the realisation that of the hundreds of donors in Melbourne less than a dozen people requested to see this certificate? And as the meshulochim will tell you, only one or two of those ever gave a substantial donation. The others, would give nothing if there was no certificate and almost nothing with it!

Actually, the only chesed that the "Chesed Foundation" did was for people who want no part in the Mitzvah of tzedaka. It gave them an easy way of opting out.

As for the original claim that it was going to filter out 'swindlers', that proved to be a joke. The few doubtful types that come here, ALWAYS carried certificate. (It may be that Mr Allen did refuse a suspected 'crook' or two. But that never stopped them from collecting anyway.)

PS: Interestingly, unless my computer is playing up, it appears that the Chesed Foundation have swiftly pulled their website. Pity about that as I was going to again check out who the approving rabbis were. (If anyone has anything on their files please forward tome - NT c/o ajnwatch@gmail.com)

9 comments:

  1. Who certified the certifier?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Check out Balben's view and the comments
    http://pitputim.wordpress.com/2011/07/21/on-the-death-of-%d7%97%d7%a1%d7%93/#comments

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yes balbin has his own method of vetting.
    Sad that a frum Jew can refuse another Yid.
    http://pitputim.wordpress.com/2011/07/12/the-pleasurable-chabadnik/

    ReplyDelete
  4. I recall a prominent visiting marbitz Torah who was very bitter at th etreament he was given by the Sydney version of this organisation. I hear that the Sydney rabbis -bar one- have all cut all ties they had with the certifier there.
    But that has not stopped him continuing.

    Can we hear from some Sydney readers about this?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Amongst the Rabbonim who signed on the Chessed Foundation endorsement were:

    Rav Chaim Gutnick
    Rav Sholem Gutnick
    Rav Binyomin Wurtzberger
    Rav Mordechai Gutnick
    Rav Tzvi Telsner
    Rav Yonasan Abraham
    Rav Yakov Barber
    Rabbi Elozor Gorelik
    Rabbi Philip Heilbrunn
    Rabbi Dovid Rubinfeld
    Rabbi Yirmi Garfunkel
    Rabbi Yakov Glasman


    Looks like "Angry Baal Tzedoko" only has Rav Beck on side. Certainly not enough to legitimately be so critical of those who initiated and supported the concept. Or is "Angry Baal Tzedoko" such a Daas Torah in his own right that he outweighs all the other Rabbonim in town. Could he please identify himself so that we, the hamon am, can judge....

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous - the litmus test would be to ask the Ravs and Rabbis you mention, whether they still support the concept. You will find that some will answer in the negative. Anyway, it's all academic now, as the Chesed Foundation no longer functions.

    ReplyDelete
  7. only acts of kindness will bring moshiachSunday, July 31, 2011 11:49:00 PM

    Anonymous said...
    Amongst the Rabbonim who signed on the Chessed Foundation endorsement were:
    Rav Chaim Gutnick
    Rav Sholem Gutnick
    Rav Binyomin Wurtzberger
    Rav Mordechai Gutnick
    Rav Tzvi Telsner
    Rav Yonasan Abraham
    Rav Yakov Barber
    Rabbi Elozor Gorelik
    Rabbi Philip Heilbrunn
    Rabbi Dovid Rubinfeld
    Rabbi Yirmi Garfunkel
    Rabbi Yakov Glasman
    ==

    Except for Rabbi Telsner and Rabbi Wurzburger the question is can the other rabbis name 3 people in the shuls that ever give a penny to meshulochim? of course they can't. So why are they signing declarations against giving tzedaka? Has Melbourne become Sodom?

    >>Looks like "Angry Baal Tzedoko" only has Rav Beck on side. Certainly not enough to legitimately be so critical of those who initiated and supported the concept.
    Accroding to the meshulochim of teh approx 200 members of adass around 150 give them a donation - large or small. So one would think that their rabbi has more of a say than the rabbis of places like Toorak, FREE or St Kilda who probably don't have a single donor. Or Doncaster or Blake St etc etc

    >> Or is "Angry Baal Tzedoko" such a Daas Torah in his own right that he outweighs all the other Rabbonim in town. Could he please identify himself so that we, the hamon am, can judge....

    You really are a disgrace. Whoever Angry BT is, it is clear that it pains him that rabbis and others are trying to ban or curtail tzedaka. Unlike him, you are happy for poor Jews to stay poor. ]

    May I remind you of what Chazal say לא יתן ולא יתנו אחרים-רשע.

    ReplyDelete
  8. In Sydney the concept first had the support of a few rabbis. But they seemed to have quickly caught on to the motives of the person running it and dropped it real fast.

    I think there is only one single rabbi who signs for it these days and I think he has plenty of his own issues right now.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I refer you to the letter of HaRav Y. S. Elyashiv shilta, written almost twenty years ago and I intend to quote you the English translation in order, that since your learning is obviously limited, it will be I hope, absolutely crystal clear to you the Daas Torah of the / a leading Posek in our generation. I now quote you from the original Loshen HaKodesh; " ... Now, since it is the case that some people who are not of a high moral stature, travel from one place to another in order to collect money, and in their hands they brandish letters attesting to their credentials and in which "there is no light [Isaiah 8:20]". They [fraudulent collectors] are [in effect] performing two evil acts: [First] they are stealing from the owners [of the charity funds] who are under the mistaken impression that through these [fraudulent] people they are performing the great Mitzvah of giving charity; [and second] these [fraudulent] people rob [legitimately needy] people whose eyes are [fixed] in anticipation towards those with generous hearts [and whose money will serve to help] to extricate them from their oppressive [poverty or need]. And, if not for thse fraudulent collectors the [genuinely needy] person would receive [a] far more [significant amount of] money.

    In respect of the claim you express in your letter to me, where you state; If there are [indeed some] fraudulent collectors [and we give them money nonetheless, without asking questions] then this will cause us to fulfil the saying of our Rabbis [Kesubos 68A] of 'let us be thankful to the fraudulent [collectors]'.

    I must state that I do not understand your intention [in making use of this text of the Talmud]. [It is well known that] our Rabbis' [of the Talmud's] intention was to derive some positive merit for those who avert their eyes from [the poor and thereby do not give] charity. For if these fraudulent collectors did not exist, then they [who do not give charity] would be considered sinners. As Rashi explains, they would have been sinners on account of averting their eyes from the poor [collectors of charity] however, now, [since there exist fraudulent collectors] the fraudulent collectors [can be rationalised as those who effectively] cause us [to avet our eyes from the poor and not donate to charity].

    And, therefore, {I conclude with my answer that] one should seek to clarify [the status and reputation] of those who stretch out their hands] to collect charitable donations] so that [one can verify and] the truth can be elicited to ascertain that they [the collectors] merit to benefit from charitable funds, so that [people] are not misled and do not mislead.

    May it be that the act and process of giving charity should be peaceful and quiet and certain for ever.

    With blessings of the Torah
    ch'sima of HaRav Elyashiv shlita

    END OF QUOTATION FROM LETTER.

    V'cho'com who may'veen.
    Shimon Allen
    CHESED Foundation

    ReplyDelete

Comments will be moderated for language and content.
Please use your name/nickname - rather than 'anonymous'.