Community Magazine September 2009

56 Community magazine For a meshulah representing yeshivot and other large organiza- tions in Israel, there is some respite. Congregation Shaare Zion has, for years now, been running a program to locally certify the authen- ticity of their mission. Through a system involving a live interview, documentation requirements (including proof of funding through the Israeli government), and follow up checking, meshulahim can obtain a certificate from Shaare Zion verifying their legitimacy. Many other large Jewish communities in America have a Vaad Hasedaka for this purpose, as well. However, smaller establish- ments, as well as private collectors raising money for individual families, who cannot produce this kind of documentation, are ineligible for this certification through Shaare Zion. Ascertaining the credibility of each of these meshulahim would require painstak- ing investigations and often, contacts on the ground on Israel. And therefore, no one in our community has taken responsibility to offer such certification to these meshulahim – until now. Restoring Lost Dignity This problem has vexed Rabbi Maimon Badush, who, for the last five years, has been overseeing the distribution of charity for a philan- thropic community member. Over the course of his work, Rabbi Badush has personally encountered several phony collectors and saw the mistrust they sow among donors. These experiences led him to consider various solutions, and all their possible drawbacks. After extensive consultations and planning, Rabbi Badush teamed up with Rabbi David Antebi and Rabbi Eli David, to realize the goal of restor- ing the dignity and respect owed to meshulahim. Even the great sage Hida (Rabbi Haim Yosef David Azoulay, 1724-1806), he notes, was a sedaka collector. Certainly, there should be no shame in collecting for charitable purposes – yet unfamiliar meshulahim are frequently greeted with suspicion. “Fraud hurts the good collectors,” Rabbi Badush observes, “because many wealthy people [who are unsure about an individual’s honesty] reduce their donations, or close their doors to unfamiliar people altogether.” His objective is to restore donor con- fidence by independently verifying the situations prompting collection and thus, helping the overwhelming majority of genuine meshulahim raise money respectfully and more easily. A System That Works Much thought has gone into how to best verify the authenticity of meshulahim . In his extensive experi- ence, Rabbi Badush has covered practically every aspect of the process, in order to give prospective donors full confidence that the certified collector is soliciting for a genuine and pressing charitable need. At the same time, Rabbi Badush’s system ensures that the application process will be convenient and dignified for the sedaka collector. The sedaka collector applies for a certification letter one or two weeks before he intends to leave Israel. The office in Bnei Brak records all pertinent information and takes a photograph of the collector. Verifying documentation, such as bank statements and references are examined discretely by a professional. The staff then corroborates the information by paying an unscheduled personal visit. This visit is carried out regardless of where in Israel the collector or the organization he represents may be located. Rabbi Badush insists that a physical visit, rather than just a phone call, is necessary for determining the accuracy of any claim. Crest Furniture Unaffordable? UntoUchable? Unheard of! Crest - quality you Can afford by Barbra Panigel Showroom 1913 10th avenue (bet. 19th & 20th St) 718.854.9500 • 718.554.1039 Dining Rooms • Dinettes • Living Rooms • Accent Pieces • FiRePLAces Specializing in Dining Rooms 12- 14 feet P P i e c e T o g e t h e r y o u r D r e a m D i n i n g R o o m DINING ROOMS • DINETTES • LIVING ROOMS • ACCENT PIECES NEW!!! Huge Selection Of Chandeliers In Stock (prices to low to mention) Closeout Prices