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On any given day, several letters arrive in the mail soliciting tzedokoh. Without risking judging the legitimacy of the soliciting organizations, these have become almost offensive. Nearly all bear the message referring to gratitude to me for having pledged, and most include a pledge amount. The trouble is that there was no one home to receive a phone call, if that occurred, and that I (or my spouse) has never pledged by phone. This pattern is dishonest, and drives me to redirect my limited tzedokoh funds elsewhere.
Is there a justification for lying to solicit tzedokoh?
I once had one that called me up. I did not give and then I received a few days later a letter thanking me for my pledge and an evelope for the donation along with an amount circled
Many of the telephone solicitors tell me that I gave a certain amount in the past and ask that I repeat the contribution. The problem is that I never heard of that organization before and never gave them any contribution. I give regularly to a couple dozen tzdakas that I know although I receive solicitations from over 150 different ones during a year.
I assume that the telephone solicitors, who call us several times a week get a percentage of the supposed pledged amount.
Edited. Talmud, this is your last warning
I once had one that called me up. I did not give and then I received a few days later a letter thanking me for my pledge and an evelope for the donation along with an amount circled
This only happened once? It happens to me regularly.
Here’s the problem. The legitimate tzaddakos hire fundraising telemarketing companies. The callers make a commision. There is no option in the software they use to send an envelope with no pledge, so the caller, who wants his commision, marks down a bogus pledge.
I don’t like it, but I’ve learned to be thick skinned and ignore it.
I keep a blacklist of organizations that have lied to me within the last 5 years and the date of the occurance.
Perhaps it is appropriate to tell the story of R Yaakov Kamanetzky coming to America. He originally came as a Meshulach for the Slabodka Yeshiva. He was given a pile of cards by the yeshiva’s office in NYC which had the name, address and “last year’s donation” for each person who he was to approach.
When a donor gave him a check, he asked why the donor had reduced his donation from the previous year. The donor became angry and showed R’ Yaakov his cancelled check from the previous year – which was not the amount listed on the card.
At that point, R Yaakov returned to the office and quit – he would not be part of a dishonest operation.
Great story- classic Reb Yaakov. He lived and breathed emes.
I love when they called and act absolutely astonished when I tell them that we only give locally (which is not Brooklyn). BTW I save all telemarketing and robocalls under one name on my cell phone so I know not to answer the next time they call.
Abba bar Aristotle
Get the facts straight before posting a story you were motzi laaz on the heilige slabodka yeshivah!
When Reb Yaakov Kaminetzky ZT”L came to America, he was a meshulach for the Kovna kollel. He stopped in to visit a certain businessman, and told him that the businessman gave a certain amount of dollars last year. The businessman challenged the number, and showed Reb Yaakov ZT”L a receipt with a lower number. Reb Yaakov ZT”L quit on the spot. The guy wanted to give Reb Yaakov ZT”L a check anyway. Reb Yaakov ZT”L told him he no longer works for the kollel, and is unable to take money for them.
This is the true version of the story as Jothar put it down on other threads.
WIY:
1. I hardly think that calls for that reaction.
2. I don’t see how your version is substantially different in the key parts.
3. I don’t know why you assume with such certainty that the version you read first is the more accurate one.
TLIK: You’re absolutely right.
Abba bar Aristotle: Very interesting story. Thank you for sharing it.
Is there a justification for lying to solicit tzedokoh?
???? ? ??
What about receiving mail from such as an old age home which is not longer in existance, in fact there is a church on site today.
What about solicitations with a Brooklyn P.O.Box for an orphanage in Israel that no longer exists.
What about your name being on a list that is sold and resold and you get multiple mailings.
We get mailings for anyone ever living in the building,a private house so even if only two families one may think it is a multiple 6 family house.
What about mailings for such listing one for Hebrew name, one for legal name, individual for each spouse and together which is a total of 5….and the postage is being paid for you and me.
All Tzedaka mailings to our home get filed directly into the circular filing cabinet.
There are Halachos in SA as per whom you are supposed to give Tzedaka. A mailing does not change these Halachos.
Even the unsolicited shaimos (a pet peeve of mine)?
When a Tzeddaka organization tells you about your past donations, kindly ask them for duplicate receipts of these donations, and you wont be able to donate until receiving these receipts
I’m currently annoyed by the flyers littering my front doorstep when we specifically got a sign so that we shouldn’t receive unsolicited mail!
Even the unsolicited shaimos (a pet peeve of mine)?
If I don’t open it…..
Al Pi Rov, there is no Shaimos.
I’ve been getting robo calls from organizations. The VOIP provider I use allows calls from specific numbers to be blocked or forwarded to another number. They are not bothering me anymore.
Worse yet, is a person getting a phone solicitation from a tzedaka organization from whom that person is actually getting much-needed financial aid, and being thanked for their “previous donation of $100” and will they match it this year?
Try this – when an organization calls say I dont respond to phone solicitations. Then hang up. They wont bother you again. Or alternatively ask them for their number so that you can call them back when they are eating dinner.
If I don’t open it…..
The thick ones, al pi rov, have shaimos.
The thick ones, al pi rov, have shaimos.
I don’t believe that to be true. Most places are smart enough to misspell the shaimos (even if they send something), as they are aware that their mailing (most of the time) ends up in the trash.
I don’t mind the reading material so much. Some of it is interesting (like Rabbi Eisemann’s books)
I don’t mind the reading material so much.
If they send me a book, I have no problem keeping it (and still will not send a check). Google “Receipt of Unsolicited Merchandise”
If they send me a book, I have no problem keeping it
I was talking about books (or Torah pamphlets, etc.).
I get these all the time from a local institution (you might not get these) and rarely do they interest me.
gavra_at_work
you’re 100% RIGHT! even al_pi_halacha you may keep the book without sending them anything, provided it was sent to you unsolicited.
I was talking about books (or Torah pamphlets, etc.).
Got you. What I was talking about (which is what I would get) are “leaflets”, which usually transform the shaimos. A big heavy package (I don’t remember the last time I got one) will first have the book removed before it is filed.
I was recently contacted by a tzedaka organization that has a program to provide assistance to families with new babies in E”Y. Apparently, they get lists of people who have recently given birth, and ask them if they will make a donation in honor of their new baby.
So they called me and asked me if I will donate, in honor of my new baby….only, it’s been a long time since I’ve had a new baby (I am IF challenged). It was painful to get such a call (though I have nothing against this tzedaka.) I don’t know how they compile their lists. I don’t have a very common name. But they need to do better checking. If they would’ve just solicited a donation I wouldn’t have minded…I minded the “in honor of your new baby” pitch, very much.
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