Local RBS Tzedaka: defending the honor of Lemaan Achai

We have two fine tzedaka organizations in RBS. Kupa Tzedaka RBS and Lemaan Achai. Both do good work, each servicing a different part of the general community, with some overlap.

There has been some tension between the organizations in the past, and of not specifically between the organizations, then between their supporters. Whenever the topic of local tzedaka is broached, tones get raised, mud gets slung, people give over their impressions of the other organization and why they do not support them, etc. Other times, when the topic is not even broached, people make broad assumptions about what the "other" organization is doing and is truly involved in.

The result can be disastrous, because if you choose to not give tzedaka to one or the other organization because of a policy of theirs you do not like, that is your business. When you take unclear information, often subjective based on something you experienced (that may very well have been an exception to the general way or working), and publicize it often in an unclear way, leaving a very bad impression of the organization, it is no longer you not giving them your tzedaka (which is your right to decide) - it then has become other people not giving because of you, and even worse it causes people who are in need to refrain from approaching the organization because they think their is something not kosher about it. So it hurts the needy twice - once by people not donating because of your personal experience, and twice because the needy do not get the help they need.

In an attempt to get clarity among the different organizations and work out some of the issues, I have planned a series of posts on the topic. I am beginning with the following - this was written up by a person who was present last week when Rav Chaim Soloveitchik spoke about the tension and attitude that people have against Lemaan Achai. This post does not explain how Lemaan Achai works, but is a call for supporting Lemaan Achai and a defense of Lemaan Achai against calls for rejecting Lemaan Achai because of their "unkosher" practices and methods.

Future posts will include; a post explaining Kupa's responses to some of the allegations recently made against them, a post explaining how Lemaan Achai works, a post explaining how Kupa Tzedaka works, and maybe more explaining various other aspects of local RBS tzedaka (if I can think of more topics, and find people who are willing to write on them and answer them).

The following was written up from a drasha given by Rav Chaim Soloveitchik in shul last Shabbat, Parshas Yisro. The write-up was not written by Rav Soloveitchik, but by a member of his shul whow as present at the drasha. He wrote it for me from memory, and Rav Soloveitchik read it and approved it...

Chesed Organization Under Attack

On Shabbat Parashat Yitro the Mara D’Atra of Beit Knesset Ohr Shalom -Mosdot HaRav Aharon Soloveichik, and founder & possek of Lema'an Achai, HaRav Chayim HaLevi Soloveichik delivered a ground-breaking drasha.

HaRav called upon Bnei Torah and Baalei Batim to stand up and defend the esteemed prize-winning chesed organization, Lema'an Achai, which has been under attack by elements within the Ramat Beth Shemesh community. According to veteran followers, HaRav Soloveichik, Shlita has never delivered a drasha so strongly-worded and fiery from the time he assumed leadership here. HaRav Soloveichik, Shlita is the scion of the illustrious Soloveichik dynasty and son of the Gaon, HaRav Aharon HaLevi Soloveichik, ztzk”l. This week, Shabbat Parashat Mishpatim the Rav continued to underscore the important, unparalleled activities of Lema'an Achai, stating “There is no community chessed organization in the world which is as advanced and as effective as Lema'an Achai – their Smart Chesed saves hundreds of families from poverty, by getting these families back on their feet. This is the very highest level of tzedaka!”

HaRav Soloveichik began his drasha by citing perek 19, pasuk 2 from Parashat Yitro which describes Bnai Yisrael’s initial approach towards Har Sinai. At first the word “vayachanu” appears in the plural, the Rav proffered, in order to emphasize that before we could appear united as a nation at Har Sinai first we all had to be assured that all of the Jewish nation’s different approaches and hashkafot were intact and appreciated by all. We could only advance to the stage of “vayichan” under which we were stationed at Har Sinai under one united front once we had already guaranteed that the various sub-identities which exist among the Jewish people were respected by all.

The Rav went on to describe how there are those in our community who are only willing to fulfill “vayichan” but not “vayachanu”. Apparently some would prefer there be a monochromatic community composed of one hashkafa and oppose the very existence of other haskafot. These segments, who apparently never internalized the concept of “shivim panim latorah” and the true meaning of Ahavat Yisrael are determined to maliciously defame Lema'an Achai.

The objectionable approach of those who can not tolerate that such a wonderful chessed organization exists in Ramat Beit Shemesh, has driven them to invent folktales and lies, one of the particularly malicious ones being that Lema'an Achai “does not follow daas Torah”. Another absurd rumor being circulated is that Lema'an Achai is associated with groups responsible for the abduction of children from good, frum homes.(You need a talented conspiracy theorist to make that one up) Under ordinary circumstances such rumors would provoke a good laugh, but the sad reality is that there are actually those who come to believe such wild rumors. The effect is that some people do not give tzedaka to Lema'an Achai, and even some individuals who are in desperate need of Lema'an Achai's services do not approach the organization for help, because they take the 'motzei shem rah' at face value.

Lema'an Achai has an open-door policy, welcoming everyone who is in need, and everyone who wants to assist. Furthermore, Lema'an Achai has open, routine and positive cooperative relationships with over thirty other charitable organizations, both throughout Israel and abroad – and is always open to expanding cooperation with other organizations.

HaRav Soloveichik told his followers that if anyone has the gall to ask “what right does your Rav have to bring up such an issue?”, then he who asks should be reminded that the Rav is the talmid muvhak of HaGaon HaGadol HaRav Aharon Soloveichik, who regularly held discussions with such great Rabbanim as HaRav Yaakov Kaminetzky, HaRav Moshe Feinstein, HaRav Yitzchak Hutner, and who from a very young age had tremendous exposure to such gedolim as HaRav Elya Pruzhaner. The Rav has received a mesorah as to when one is obligated to speak out - the vicious attacks on Lema'an Achai certainly raise that obligation.

The Rav has urged all Torah Jews to stand up and defend Lema'an Achai from those who besmirch it, from those who spread sinat chinam.

The illustrious ancestor of HaRav Soloveichik, the Netziv in his introduction to his commentary on the chumash writes that the sinat chinam which led the Temple to be destroyed was the in-fighting among observant Jews of different hashkafot. The Rav urged us to remove this plague from our community. The outrage felt by followers of the Rav stems from the affront to Lema'an Achai and from the fact that the Rav was placed in a position whereby he felt he must defend his position as the Posek of the organization. Followers of the Rav have already begun taking action to assure that his message is heard loudly and clearly by all.

"The real answer to the those who might seek to damage the avodas kodesh of Lema'an Achai," the Rav explained, "is for everyone to express their support – by donating their tzedaka, by giving of their time to volunteer and by telling their friends, relatives and colleagues about the wonderful work of the world's best community chesed organization – right here in Ramat Beit Shemesh."