There is a new insurance policy that is making the rounds. This insurance is to protect you from accidents of the road.
nothing new about that, is there?
Well, yes, there is. What is new about this insurance is that it works by donating money to the organization, then the org named Ashdod Mercaz Chinuch through it's program called "Protection on the road" will have its nearly 2000 young children students daven on your behalf, thus providing you with protection on the dangerous roads.
I've got no problem with people donating money to whatever they consider a worthy cause or organization. Just the opposite.
I also have no problem with a person donating money looking to obtain additional merits that will help him get through tough times, including through medical issues. There is nothing wrong with giving tzedaka and saying so and so should merit from it, for a refuah shleimah of so and so. No problem at all.
My only issue is that they call it insurance. It's one thing to talk about increasing one's merits with good deeds in the hope of averting danger. it's another thing to make promises and give guarantees. Not only do they have different lengths of policies (i.e. they will daven and protect you from road mishaps for a two month period, a 4 month period, etc. in exchange for specific donations), but they even have individual plans and the ability to pay a little more to buy a family plan. I guess the family plan means that they are davening for the entire family and nobody in the family will be injured in a car accident during that period of time...
This seems to be going a little overboard
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They may call it insurance, but it should be clear as day to anyone who reads the website that all you get in return for a donation is that the kids will include you in their prayers. For those who don't understand that this is just a fundraising gimmick, you have to check a box next to the following before you can sign up:
ReplyDeleteI have read the terms, and understand that this agreement is a spiritual agreement which does not constitute any grounds for the Insured to claim money from the Ashdod Mercaz Chinuch Project.
I received a letter like this several years ago, from an organization called "Shemirah Bidrachim", complete with the de rigeur rabbinical endorsements. They called it insurance, too. The letter read, in part:
ReplyDeleteDear Traveler,
For a minimal contribution to the yeshiva in Ashdod, Israel, two thousand children will recite Tehilim and additional special tefilos of protection for you and your family.
The purity and innocence of their Yiddishe neshamos infuse their piercing tefilos with the power to protect you and your family from harm.
The proceeds from every policy help pay for Rebbeim and needed services...
Ordinary insurance can provide financial insurance in case of an accident, but Shemirah Bidrachim has the power to prevent an accident from ever taking place.
A Google search shows they are still around, at protectionontheroad.org. Nothing new...
As long as they make it clear that it is not really insurance I don't think it is anything worse than being tacky.
ReplyDeleteThat being said I am somewhat skeptical of the random strangers praying for you meeme that is going around Jewish circles. I just don't think that the Almighty is sitting there going "Oh well that guy only has 26 people praying for him, if we get to 32 we will cure his cancer"
If you really want to improve the world go out and do something!
If you really want to improve the world go out and do something!
DeleteTITCR!
This story ties in neatly with my remarks the other day on some quasi-commercial organization garnering money to learn mishnayos and to say kaddish on behalf of Jews who have neither the time nor the inclination to perform those mitzvot themselves.
ReplyDelete