Save and print selected articles in a PDF journal.
Receive emails containing the latest comments on your favorite articles.
Mark articles as "READ".
More member features coming soon...
Raffle Rules:
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. To enter, complete the signup form and join as a member. Incomplete entries will be disqualified. All entries shall become the property of CJFL. CJFL is not responsible for lost, misdirected or delayed entries.
The contest is open to the general public. Members need to be at least 18 years old. Identification must be produced on request. Employees of CJFL, its raffle sponsor, advertising and promotional agencies and their respective affiliates and associates and such employees' immediate family members and persons with whom such employees are domiciled are excluded from this raffle. ALL PREVIOUSLY REGISTERED MEMBERS WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY ENTERED INTO THIS RAFFLE.
The prize is not redeemable in cash and must be accepted as awarded.
Decisions of the raffle judges are final - no substitutions will be available.
By claiming the prize, the winner authorizes the use, without additional compensation of his or her name and/or likeness (first initial and last name) and municipality of residence for promotion and/or advertising purposes in any manner and in any medium (including without limitation, radio broadcasts, newspapers and other publications and in television or film releases, slides, videotape, distribution over the internet and picture date storage) which CJFL may deem appropriate.
In accepting the prize, the winner, acknowledges that CJFL may not be held liable for any loss, damages or injury associated with accepting or using this prize.
CJFL retains the rights, in its absolute and sole discretion, to make substitutions of equivalent kind or approximate value in the event of the unavailability of any prize or component of the prize for any reason whatsoever.
This contest is subject to all federal, provincial and municipal laws.
CJFL reserves the right to withdraw or terminate this raffle at any time without prior notice.
One entry per person.
11/10/06
My parents were childless for the first ten years of their married life. Naturally, their joy was boundless when they were blessed with the birth of my older sister thirteen months before I was born. Their family members, friends and neighbors shared in their boundless celebration (See Rashi's commentary to Bereshis 21:6)
My mother related to me how touched she was by the many people who informed her that they had said tehilim for her, dedicated mitzvah observance on her behalf, or had asked gedolim to daven that my father a'h and she, y'lct, merit the birth of a child. While my parents were appreciative beyond words of all maasim tovim and tefilos dedicated on their behalf, and we firmly believe that every sincere tefilah is accepted by Hashem, it would quite obviously be impossible to declare with any certainty that any particular tefilah, segulah, or bracha were to be 'credited' for my sister's birth.
I mention this in the context of the past two columns appearing in this space noting that increasingly more and more charity ads are hawking 'yeshuos' (miraculous salvations) to prompt people to give tzedakah - as opposed to (or in addition to) making a thoughtful case for why this particular charity is worthy of your support.
There are those in our diverse kehilos who attach great significance to segulos and/or yeshuos. Others take the "Tomim t'heyeh im Hashem Elokecha," (Devorim 18:13, see Rashi) approach and do not attach much meaning to segulos/yeshuos. Further along the continuum, there are those who are put off by the notion of segulos/yeshuos and feel that they are presented as 'shortcuts' leading to instant acceptance of tefilos.
These are substantive and diverse hashkafic philosophies, and are well beyond the scope of this column.
With that in mind, we ought to respect each other's approaches to this matter of segulos and yeshuos. However, in the public arena, I strongly feel that charity ads should be making the case for why particular tzedakos are worthy of the reader's donation - without engaging in 'marketing' segulos or yeshuos.
Desperate Measures
Then there is the issue of the propriety of charity ads appealing to the vulnerability of people who are, sadly, suffering through a challenging time in their lives.
I feel that it is highly inappropriate for people who are desperate for children, shidduchim, or have relatives who are seriously ill to be 'pitched' for charity giving in a manner that conveys the message that they are almost guaranteed a 'yeshuah' if they will contribute to a particular charity.
A few months ago, I received an email from an individual who lives in Baltimore, Maryland. This man and his wife were childless for a number of years in the 1980's. They traveled to Eretz Yisroel during this challenging period in their lives, and went to Bnei Brak to request a bracha from Maran HaRav Eliezer Shach z'tl. Rav Shach told them that when they return home, they should visit a local yeshiva and arrange to pay for the full tuition of a needy child in their community. Rav Shach informed them that they should express in their tefilos that just as they paid for the tuition of one of Hashem's children, they ask to be merited the zechus of paying for the tuition of their own children. They did just that and they were blessed with a child within a short period of time.
Now, imagine what your reaction would be if a Yeshiva in Baltimore would relate that story in a series of full-page ads with screaming headlines reading: "Segulah For Children!!! Pay for the tuition of a child in our yeshiva!!!"
There are so many wonderful and diverse charities in our community, each of them worthy of communal support; Tomchei Shabbos, Bikur Cholim, etc. It is the responsibility of those in the leadership of the charities to make the case - in ads, flyers, and personal solicitations - as to why donors should contribute to them. It is certainly appropriate to present footnoted, universally accepted mamorei chazal (words of our sages) - such as a pasuk from Tanach, a quote from a gemorah, or the commentary of Rashi - supporting the themes of the charity in a way that presents a logical thread to the reader.
Four for Four
Take the example of one of the many tzedokos that solicit funds to assist needy Jews with Yom Tov expenditures. There are so many beautiful mamorei chazal that could be the theme of ads supporting this charity - without resorting to hawking 'yeshuos'.
Here is just one:
When describing the Yom Tov festivities, The Torah (Devorim 16:11) states, "You should rejoice before Hashem; you, your son, your daughter, your slave and your maidservant … the Levi, the convert, the widow and the orphan."
There is a touching and poignant Rashi that so beautifully conveys the theme of assisting those in need with their holiday expenses. Commenting on the pasuk noted above, Rashi points out that the Torah includes eight categories of people who ought to be included in the happiness of our holidays. Four are members of one's household - the children and the members of one's staff. The other four listed in the Torah are those who may not have the resources or the safety net of familial support to defray the considerable expenses associated with Yom Tov - the Levi, the convert, the widow and the orphan.
Rashi (Devorim 16:11), quotes two Midrashim and states that Hashem says, "Your four (the members of your household) correspond to My four (those who may be in need). If you gladden the hearts of My four, I will gladden the hearts of your four."
Here you have a clear, unequivocal assurance from Hashem to materially benefit those who support needy Yidden before Yom Tov - from Rashi, no less, the "Father of our Commentators." There is also a logical and emotional connection between the mitzvah and its reward.
There are no comments yet. Click above to write the first comment.
Dear Readers:
Please visit our Parenting Resource listing to learn about agencies and services that you can make use of. If you know of an agency that can be of assistance to others, kindly drop an email to our site administrator at admin@RabbiHorowitz.com and pass along the information to him.
I ask that you please consider supporting the work we are doing to improve the lives of our children. Click on these links to learn more about our teen and parent mentoring program that serves hundreds of teens and their families, or our KESHER program, now in 20 schools in 4 states. Your financial support can allow us to expand these services and help more children.
If you believe in the governing principles of this website – to help effect positive change through the candid discussions of the real issues we collectively face, please consider becoming a daily, weekly or monthly sponsor of this website and help defray the costs of it’s maintenance.
Working with Families and Educators on Behalf of our Children
This site is managed by The Center for Jewish Family Life, Inc., 56 Briarcliff Drive, Monsey, NY 10952
Project Y.E.S. was founded by Agudath Israel of America
The Center for Jewish Family Life/Project YES - 56 Briarcliff Drive, Monsey, NY 10952 (845) 352-7100 ext. 114 Fax: (845) 352-9593
email: email@kosherjewishparenting.com
