A major "fashla" of one of the major tzedaka organizations has led to a bit of an uproar regarding the methods used for fundraising.
Bechadrei is reporting that a few hours before Rosh Hashana the tzedaka organization "Vaad HaRabbonim L'Inyanei tzedaka" arranged a special prayer service for many rabbonim led by Rav Elyashiv in which the rabbonim davened and specifically mentioned the name of every donor on the list.
The Vaad HaRabbonim then reported, after Rosh Hashana, on their news update line, that on Erev Rosh Hashana they had had this special session including many rabbonim and Rav Elyashiv in which they davened and then spent a couple hours reading every name on the list - tens of thousands of names - along with each person's specific request.
before I continue with the report, I would interject here that this sounds like a tremendous level fo abuse, specifically of Rav Elyashiv. To have him sit there (or stand) and read thousands of names? He is over 100 years old! Besides for the abuse, it seems like a tremendous waste of his time.
Back to the report - It was later revealed that the report by the Vaad HaRabbonim was false. Rav Elyashiv was not at the Kotel, and had not gone to the Kotel and was not part of their special session at the Kotel. At the time he had been in his own house in Mea Shearim learning gemara. Because of his weakness, he has been ill recently, he did not even go to the Kotel this year for his annual pre-Rosh Hashana visit.
When this was discovered, it has led to a bit of an uproar. the Vaad claims the message was pre-recorded and was not intended to deceive. Rav Chaim Kanievsky has supposedly said that donors who gave expecting Rav Elyashiv to be part of it deserve their money back.
The organizations have been using unsavory methods for a long time, digging up long-lost segulahs, distorting words of Shulchan Aruch and other sources, and spending phenomenal amounts of money on promotional materials designed to pressure people to give more and more money. Have they finally crossed the line? Will we start to see changes? Will people demand changes to their fundraising methods?
I doubt it, but it is possible.
Rafi,
ReplyDeleteAre you really shocked, surprised, etc.?
In the Chraedi world it is the end that justifies the means..any means.
The Rabbinic 'centerfolds",scare tactics and out in out lies have become part and parcel.
Come on, did anyone really think that Rav Elyashiv, a frail 100 year old man who's been ill would really even participate in this thing?
ReplyDeleteWell, if Vaad Harabanim would have followed their own advice and given themselves a donation, then Rav Elyashiv would have magically shown up at the Kotel and read through the thousands of names and get back in time. Duh. Happy New Year gang.
ReplyDeleteIt is precisely for that reason that many exercise a great degree of cynicism towards orthodox Jewish charities.
ReplyDeleteSomeone should tell these licensed kabtzanim that truth is the best tool to extract charity from people's pockets.
Perhaps now some of the people who feel that Kupa Shel Tzedaka is criticized here will understand the issues.
ReplyDeleteThe Kupa Shel Tzedaka of RBSA employs many of the same deceptive and questionable advertising practices to lure, scare and almost bully people into supporting them instead of "other" organizations.
I am not saying that they don't do good things just as I am sure Vaad Harabbonim, Kupat Ha'ir, etc also does.
It's just a question of "vhisem nikiim".