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October 9, 2011 3:07 pm at 3:07 pm #599863Herr HimmelMember
Is it wrong for a Hatzalah member to accept a discounted rate at a merchant who offers discounts to Hatzalah (or other Chsed organization) members — since it is cashing in on ones mitzvos?
October 9, 2011 5:44 pm at 5:44 pm #8166632qwertyParticipantThe mitzvah of visiting the sick is rewarded in Olam habo and in this world.
October 9, 2011 5:54 pm at 5:54 pm #816664shlishiMemberWhat’s the shaychus? Are you implying that if someone is part of Bikur Cholim they should accept merchant discounts on personal items for being a BC member?
The reward in this world for bikur cholim is given by Hashem (i.e. he spared punishment in this world – Shabbos 127a/Nedarim 40a), it isn’t something he uses to obtain favorable treatment.
October 9, 2011 6:03 pm at 6:03 pm #816665doodle jumpParticipantEach Hatzalah member is a Mal’ach from HaShem. HaShem should shower them with all that is good.
October 9, 2011 6:36 pm at 6:36 pm #816666The FrumguyParticipantAnd I always thought that they did the Chesed Lishmah.
October 9, 2011 7:36 pm at 7:36 pm #816667doodle jumpParticipantTFG: They are doing it Lishma, but if a person wants to show his appreciation, What is wrong with that?
October 9, 2011 9:07 pm at 9:07 pm #816668amusedParticipantNothing. The question is if he should accept the discount because he is a volunteer.
October 10, 2011 1:58 am at 1:58 am #816669doodle jumpParticipantI really don’t see any problem with it. They are volunteers without specific hours, or time. When you have a volunteer, he/she has a set time. Not these guys. They are always on call. Shabbos, Yom Tov, Sedarim, Shul, Seudos, you name it. Their families are also amazing, since they are in this together. We should show them appreciation as much as we can because without them, good luck.
October 10, 2011 2:06 am at 2:06 am #816670Sam2ParticipantYou also have to consider that the owner/seller/etc. might be offended if you refuse the discount.
October 10, 2011 2:13 am at 2:13 am #816671amusedParticipantBut should they accept this financial “payment” for their mitzvah?
October 10, 2011 2:15 am at 2:15 am #816672yaakov doeParticipantAs a parent of a member, I don’t see a problem with a merchant showing appreciation through a discount. I assure you that my son didn’t join to get a discount or for status, but to help fellow Yiddin.
October 10, 2011 3:09 pm at 3:09 pm #816673miritchkaMemberMy husband is a member of hatzoloh and the only time he does accept the discount is when the cashier notices his radio (or if he happens to be wearing his shirt/jacket with teh hatzoloh emblem) and automatically gives the discount. I asked him why he doesnt take advantage of it and he said what a previous member mentioned, he doesnt want to get paid for a mitzvah.
October 10, 2011 3:37 pm at 3:37 pm #816674doodle jumpParticipantMiritchka: I really don’t think that by receiving a discount he is forgoing his mitzvah. People want to show appreciation for those tzadikim. When a Rebbi gets a chanukkah gift from a parent, is he forgoing his mitzvah of teaching Torah? Of course not. A parent wants to show appreciation. Let him receive the discount. He deserves it. I really don’t see any problem with it.
October 10, 2011 3:52 pm at 3:52 pm #816675A Heimishe MomParticipantI second miritchka. My husband will not use a hatzolah member discount as a matter of course although he is a member. If someone gives it to him without him asking then he won’t refuse as a favor to the merchant. Not all members are like that. Some will take whatever discount is available. Fine by me, but not for me.
October 10, 2011 4:12 pm at 4:12 pm #816676gavra_at_workParticipantHow about a Kollel discount?
October 11, 2011 2:43 pm at 2:43 pm #816677miritchkaMemberGavra at work: I think that the difference, imho, is that men in kollel usually need the discount more than others. This is not to say that hatzoloh members or any other person doesnt. From a personal standpoint, we could really use the discount. Besides, i thought that the kollel discount was a store owners way of contributing his part to the ‘yisschar-zevulun’ partnership. Whereas the hatzoloh discount is when one shows appreciation. correct me if i’m wrong.
October 11, 2011 2:49 pm at 2:49 pm #816678miritchkaMemberdoodlejump: its not that he feels he’s forgoing the mitzvah, its a matter of perspective. Believe me, i know from a firsthand point how much a member of hatzoloh gives..!! I dont know if this is a good way to explain myself but i’ll try: one should eat a fruit to make a berach, not make a beracha to eat the fruit.
As far as a gift for a rebbe/morah, a parent is mechuyav to teach his child. If he cant for whatever reason, he hires someone. When you hire someone, you have to pay. And just like, lehavdil a manicurist or barber, many people feel the need to tip.
October 11, 2011 4:11 pm at 4:11 pm #816679Dr. SeussMemberIf I were the merchant, I would happily give members discounts since it would be a great (and cheap) way to buy a portion of their mitzvah.
If I were the member, I would always certainly not ask for the discount and even refuse it if the merchant automatically gave it to me, since I would never want to sell even a portion of my mitzvah.
October 11, 2011 4:13 pm at 4:13 pm #816680gavra_at_workParticipantGavra at work: I think that the difference, imho, is that men in kollel usually need the discount more than others. This is not to say that hatzoloh members or any other person doesnt. From a personal standpoint, we could really use the discount. Besides, i thought that the kollel discount was a store owners way of contributing his part to the ‘yisschar-zevulun’ partnership. Whereas the hatzoloh discount is when one shows appreciation. correct me if i’m wrong.
I hear you. One is giving Tzedaka, while the other is showing Hakoras HaTov. A person is Mechuyav in both.
October 11, 2011 10:40 pm at 10:40 pm #816681Bar ShattyaMemberThe mitzvah of visiting the sick is rewarded in Olam habo and in this world.
The Chovos HaLevovos says that people like a tzadik, but that’s Hashem’s job, not your job to make them like you. ( Yichud hamaaseh, around Page Mem Zayin in Lev Tov Ed.)
He also has a story of a Tzadik who got offered a disount because he was a holy dawg and refused it so as not to get reward for good stuff, but I suspect we may not be on the same level so I don’t know how that applies to us.
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