In better times I gave a fair amount of charity. $1,000.00 to Chinuch Atzmai, $1.000.00 to Square Town, $1,000.00 to Oorah, $1,000 a year to each Yeshiva that I went to. Then there was $100.00 to the average meshulach.
Times were good and I had plenty of money. I spent the money on glamorous charities who gave me alot of Kovod in exchange for donations and had exciting promotions. I only once gave Matan B’Seyser a check, that was for four hundred dollars.
Move up the clock a few years, my businesses failed, life became more expensive. One day they came to turn off my electricity, at that point water was more important, someone saw what was happening and told Matan Bseyser. I am still struggling to get back on my feet.
So why am I telling you this? The answer is that this could be you. My main point is focus your donation power to Matan Bseyser and the school that you send your children to while you have money to give, you may be giving that donation to yourself.
moishele-clevelander says
WOW! Right to the point!We will never completely appreciate all the wonderful HIDDEN chasodim Matan Bseyser does in our community.
You should be matzliach in everything!
Local Citizen says
On the same note, if inyanei irecha are supposed to come frist, doesn’t that mean also that the JLC/Aish et al locally should take precedence in our kiruv dollars over NY area ones like Oorah.
Local Bikkur Cholim before out of town needs for inyanei refuos. No one wants to turn away anyone in need with such tzaros, but locally, there are those who are just as in need and the coffers of our local Bikkur Cholim can’t help them unless we support them. It really is supporting ourselves because one never knows when they will have a need, though we always hope and daven not to for anything serious. Still there are many serious needs here.
Local schools ahead of appeals for out of town yeshivos.Shouldn’t that be a given.
and yes, Matan Bsayser that helps those in need here. Isn’t that the halacha? We must be and are a giving people. Thank you Achai for reminding us to prioritize our larger donations locally.