local RBS Tzedaka: clarification from the Kupa

The following was not written by me. It was written by somebody who was disturbed by recent allegations against the Kupa and he wanted to clear things up. He called Rav Eidensohn (head of the Kupa) a number of times and asked him a bunch of questions based on the allegations being mentioned in various places here on this blog in recent discussions. The writer who was diligent enough to do the work is a supporter of both the Kupa and Lmaan Achai. He sent me the following....

NOTE before we begin: this is not for the purpose of being able to attack them for certain policy. If you do not like one of, any of, or all of the answers and explanations below, feel free to not support them. If they generate more questions, or if you feel certain questions about the Kupa's policies and methods have not been answered, feel free to ask or criticize respectfully in the comments. We will try to get answers to all the questions... at least, as much as possible. There might be a situation in which we cannot get to the bottom of certain issues. Feel free to call Rav Eidensohn yourself if you have an issue that bothers you - he is listed in the phone book.

The fact that there are two tzedakah organizations in Ramat Beit Shemesh, the Kupah Shel Tzedakah and Lemaan Achai, does not have to mean that there is a fundamental disagreement between them, just that there are different methods of operating. This is the case in many cities where there are more than one kupos shel tzedakah and there is not necessarily hostility between them. Therefore there is no reason to assume that if the Kupah says something positive about itself and its methods that it is automatically intended to denigrate Lemaan Achai. Conversely when Lemaan Achai say they do "smart chesed" the implication is not that the Kupah does "stupid chesed" or that they are "Ahavas Chinam" that the Kupa is Sinas Chinam! Rather each organization is just stressing its perceived maalos. Regarding some of the points that were discussed on the blog around Chanukah time concerning the Kupah Shel Tzedakah I took the time to verify some of the issues with Shmuel Zalman Eidenson, the chairman of the Kupah Shel Tzedkah. Rabbi Perlstein and Rabbi Eidenson did not say or intimate anything against Lemaan Achai at the dinner last year, and it is on video for anyone who wants to check it out.

In any case anyone who is bothered by what Rav Perlstein has done or said need not boycott the Kupah Shel Tzedekah just because he is affiliated with it; he is not THE posek of the Kupah. It is important to stress that the directing principles by which the Kupah operates were formulated six years ago in a meeting attended by Rabbis Perlstein, Kornfeld, Malinowitz and Davidovitz. Day to day decisions regarding applications for help by individuals or families are made based on these principles and in consultation with the Rav of the shul with whom that individual or family is affiliated. Thus decisions are made based on the input of every Rabbi of every Shul and the Kupah is not the monopoly of just one Rav or one group.

Regarding the issue with the electricity about to be cut off, the truth is that Chevrat Chashmal did make known that although they had pushed off doing this, on a certain day electricity would definitely be cut off to a number of people who had not yet paid their electricity bills

for many months. The Kupah called them again and pleaded for an extension but they were refused. The night before the inevitable cut-off at about 3 am notices were typed up asking the community to help. In the end the Kupah was in fact successful in getting an extension after paying some of the money and promising to pay the rest, and they raised locally around 20000shekels which prevented most people from having their electricity cut off. However there wasn't enough money for everyone and indeed some people's electricity was cut off as a result for a short time.

Regarding the Kupah using a paid secretary, the money that is used to pay her does not come from donations to the Kupah given by private individuals but rather from special donations designed specially for this purpose, as well as other administrative expenses. For example Shefa Shuk gives 10000 shekels a month, enough to cover three secretaries if that would be necessary. So the tzedakah someone gives is indeed 100 percent tzedakah.

Hopefully this will clear up some of the misunderstandings.

It is a disgrace to the community that people who dedicatedly volunteer their time and resources for the benefit of the community are the subjects of loshon ho'ro and motzi shem ra. It is possible to make discreet enquiries, and indeed a person is obligated to do so to an extent to make sure he is giving tzedakah to a worthy and reliable cause, but a public forum is not the place to post allegations and hearsay. We should all be deeply grateful to the Kupah and Lmaan Achai and their volunteers who devote themselves to helping others.