Reply To: Dedications — Has It Gone Too Far?

This is one of those rare occasions where I agree with Joe.
The point of dedicating something is that there is a mitzvah involved, and you want it to be a zchus for someone. So if I sponsor a day of learning at my kid’s school in memory of my grandparents, the merit of the learning from that day should go towards them.
Having sponsors for things like podcasts where they’re just interviewing someone doesn’t make much sense, unless it’s purely a business sponsorship – in which case it’s basic advertising. A new caterer sponsoring a kiddush and providing the food is done in the hope that people will enjoy the food, and then shop at the store.