[Avodah] The Winners & Losers in the Battle For Your Bucks

[Prof. Levine]

 From http://revach.net/article.php?id=5208

I am not a posek and don't know much detailed Halacha, but while our 
mitzvos should be guided first and foremost by halacha, it should 
also penetrate deeper than the letter of the law and touch something 
within us. Hashem is interested in our heart more than our hand.

Today there is so much competition from so many different 
organizations for our tzedaka budget. While competition is usually 
good for the consumer, in this case it complicates matters and takes 
a lot of Ahavas Hashem and Ahavas Yisroel away from our Mitzva of 
tzedaka. We are bombarded with all kinds of incentives from free 
cars, money, and even apartments, to more sublime paybacks like 
brachos for good children and easy shiduchim.

<Snip>

The Volozhin Yeshiva had a Mishulach that they would send around 
Europe to collect funds for the Yeshiva. Before one trip the 
Mishulach came to Rav Chaim Volozhiner and told him that he feels his 
tattered clothing and broken wagon are diminishing his respect in the 
eyes of the donors and therefore they give less money to the Yeshiva. 
Sharpening him up would improve the image of the Yeshiva and would 
bring in more money. Rav Chaim agreed and he paid for a new fancy 
suit and nice wagon to take the Mishulach on his travels.

A few weeks later the Mishulach returned with less money than ever. 
He explained to Rav Chaim that one of his biggest donors refused to 
give anything because he didn't want his money going for the 
Mishulach's clothing and wagon.

I don't remember the exact details but Rav Chaim's response to the 
donor was that each donation ends up being used for as holy a cause 
as was the intention of the donor. Betzalel's greatness in 
constructing the mishkan was knowing whose money should be used for 
the Aron Kodesh because his thoughts were purely L'Sham Shamayim 
while other money was given for reasons of honor. Similarly said Rav 
Chaim if your donation was given for the honor of Torah you can rest 
assured that you money will go for Torah and not for travel expenses.

Based on this thought we have nothing to fear. If we give tzedaka to 
a worthy organization L'Shma we can feel at ease that it went to the 
cause itself and not to the marketing expenses. You will be credited 
in Shamayim with a great mitzva of tzedaka. If however you give it 
for the new car, then let's hope you win because that is where your 
money went.

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