gaw – this is obviously too hot of a button to discuss rationally. And I am super familiar with that feeling. I hear your responses to me and they are not quite answers to what I said, but rather to what you want to think I said. For example, I did not say buying a sheital was a mitzva. and nobody said a word about forcing and shaming others into supporting anything.
While i am NOT someone who asks for community funds EVEN THO i don’t make ends meet, I still dont agree that you can be so harsh toward those who are WANTING to help. Not everyone who asks for help is begging, and not everyone who gives help did so against their will.
Perhaps this conversation, for you, is like the pedophile conversations are for me. in which case i will respectfully bow out.