Community Magazine July 2014

30 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE It’s a common occurrence that we face numerous times a day. You’re sitting in shul reading from the siddur, or perhaps by your office desk, attempting to make a sale, when you’re suddenly approached by a less-fortunate stranger, waiting patiently for your generosity. He or she seeks your financial help, and whether he’s holding out a hand, a manila envelope, or a brochure – you’re never quite sure what to assume. Your mind starts asking uncomfortable questions such as, “Who is this fellow?” and “How can I be sure his cause is legitimate?” LEON SAKKAL T he job of raising money for charitable causes was once looked upon as a holy and noble task. In the 18th century, the great Hida (Rav Haim Yosef David Azoulay), one of the greatest Sephardic Torah luminaries of all time, served as a sheluha derabbanan , a formal emissary for the impoverished Jewish population of Eretz Yisrael . He traveled throughout the Jewish world to raise money for the Jews of Hevron, journeying as far west as Tunisia and as far north as London and Amsterdam. And whereas today collectors are often treated with derision and contempt, the communities visited by the Hida warmly embraced him and treated him with the utmost reverence and respect. The Hida himself felt privileged and honored to represent the Jews of Eretz Yisrael and raise funds on their behalf. This feeling was shared by many others who likewise relished the opportunity to solicit charity, and friendly arguments would be waged between families vying for the privilege of hosting the emissary in their home. Fast forward to our day and age, when the situation is, unfortunately, much different. The sacred job of charity collection has been hijacked by a small group of felons who take unfair advantage of the Jewish people’s trademark generosity and compassion for personal gain. They have disgraced the hallowed job of fundraising once held by saintly men like the Hida, and have made it increasingly difficult for truly worthy institutions and individuals to get the help they need from potential donors who are, justifiably, wary of people asking them for their hard-earned dollars. A Man with the Mission Rabbi Maimon Badush of Congregation Ahavat Shalom has directed and overseen many of the generous donations distributed by some of our community’s most respected philanthropists. Over the course of this sacred work, he has come across many rabbis, selfless leaders, activists, as well as, unfortunately, con artists. On more than occasion, Rabbi Badush discovered that the man or woman who claimed to have a school, orphanage, kollel or other worthy institution was in fact an imposter, deviously looking for some easy money. He estimates that our community is visited by approximately 1600-1700 collectors a year, most of whom, he says, “are fine,” adding, “there is a minority that are certainly not.” The issue haunted the rabbi, who saw that many well-meaning people were opening their hearts and wallets to frauds and phonies, while others disdainfully ignored genuine appeals for help due to understandable suspicion and mistrust. As an eye witness of fraudulent activity, sneakily camouflaged in the cloak of charity and kindness, Rabbi Badush set his heart on a mission. He was going to prevent people from being subjected to fraudulent soliciting, and likewise ensure that the voices of legitimate institutions in need of financial assistance would be heard by the public. With the backing and support of leading community rabbis, he devised a unique system which guarantees that charity dollars are transferred to the right hands. After years of careful planning and countless meetings, in 2010, Rabbi Badush’s dream became a reality, and the Charity Safebox was born. Saving Lives with the Charity Safebox Rabbi Badush teamed up with Rabbi Danny Grand (of Bnai Yosef and Shaare Zion) to establish the new organization with members in both Israel and the United States. They developed a revolutionary, user-friendly website to allow prospective donors to give charity to worthy institutions, and to allow those institutions to raise money in an efficient, dignified manner. Rabbi Badush and his dedicated staff work tirelessly, investigating, examining, and digging for whatever information they can find before authorizing an individual or institution to solicit in the Charity Safebox. Upon confirming the validity of a cause, the client is provided with a Safebox card which has a barcode that can be scanned by prospective donors. The donors are then directly linked to the Safebox website where they can view the profile of the individual/ institution, and learn more about the cause. Once they decide to donate, they make an online donation that is processed by PayTrust. Charity Safebox effectively restores the honor of the job of fundraising, while at the same time encouraging donations to Rabbi Maimon Badush discussing charity matters while in Israel.