[Avodah] I am calling for ...

[Prof. Levine]

The following was sent to me by
    Dr. med. J. Sternbuch
    Switzerland
who is on my email list.  He has given me permission to send this out.

Dear Prof. Levine

I remember that years ago I approached our Godol here in Zurich, R. Moshe
Soloveitchik ztl (a cousin of the Bostoner Rav) about this problem. In
Zurich much more money is leaving the city than is given to local mosdos
(also due to the proximity to Israel). Local mosdos suffer greatly.

I asked him to issue, with all local Rabbonim, a recommendation (not a
psak) that everyone in Zurich should donate at least as much locally as
for out-of-place zedokos.

His answer was unexpected and showed his insight into the human psyche. He
told me that the local Rabbonim should not do that. Because this will
give people a pretext not to give to either place, neither locally nor
abroad. My interpretation: if you get used to say NO to Zedoko requests,
you will use this word also locally. And then you will use such a
recommendation as pretext to say no. You should always give, but with a
very clear preference to local and known causes. That's what Chazal meant
by Anijei Ircho Kodmim - only Kodmim, but not taking over everything.

Joshua Sternbuch