[Avodah] I am calling for ...

[Prof. Levine]

The phone rang not long ago and after I answered a woman told me that 
she was calling for an organization that I have never heard of, that 
is headed by a rabbi I have never heard of,  that gives out money and 
food to needy people all over the country.

I pointed out to her that there were plenty of needy people living in 
Flatbush where I live and suggested that she send in a donation to 
the Young Israel of Avenue J Chesed Fund.  That ended the call.

The point is,  "Why should anyone expect local residents of a 
community that has needy people to support  needy people anywhere else?"

A friend of mine who lives in Washington Heights has complained to me 
that he regularly receives requests from yeshivas in Lakewood (not 
BMG which he considers a national Mosad and hence worthy of 
nationwide support) ) asking for donations.  "Why should I donate to 
a yeshiva in Lakewood when Washington Heights has so many needs?" he asks.

And speaking of Lakewood, I have been told by someone who lives there 
that there are constant appeals for all sorts of worthy causes that 
are not Lakewood based despite the fact that many mosdos in Lakewood 
are in severe financial straits.  He claimed that there was talk of a 
move to focus people on donating to Lakewood Mosdos rather than to 
other Mosdos.  I do not know if anything ever came of this.

When I lived in Elizabeth, NJ no organization that was not based in 
Elizabeth could hold a fund raising event in Elizabeth.  Some people 
were not happy about this and apparently their unhappiness was 
expressed to Rav P. M. Teitz,  ZT"L.  I recall Rav Teitz publicly 
pointing out that the mosdos in Elizabeth were constantly in need of 
funds,  and hence it was not appropriate for non-Elizabeth 
organizations to appeal to Elizabethans for funds.

When I get a call asking me to donate money to Hatzala in EY,  I 
point out that I donate to Hatzala of Flatbush and that I feel that 
people in EY should support Hatzala in EY.  I am not implying that 
Hatzala in EY is not a worthy cause.  However,  shouldn't my support 
be focused on organizations where I live?

Indeed, is it really appropriate and halachicly proper for a 
non-local organization that is not national to appeal for funds when 
the local mosdos are in need?  YL