A number of wealthy Jews who habitually make large contributions to mosdos in Eretz Yisrael have launched a center to provide services to shlichim from Eretz Yisrael in NYC.
In response to the global fiscal crisis, the center was established to provide assistance to those raising funds for mosdos Eretz Yisrael, providing logistical and other support.
An estimated over 1,000 shluchim from mosdos torah in Eretz Yisrael arrive annually as they hope to find donors to maintain their institutions. Of late, the realities surrounding fundraising have become increasingly difficult, making it increasingly difficult for shluchim to accomplish their objectives.
The income of many torah institutions eroded significantly this year due to a number of factors, a decrease in government funding and the financial crisis that has impacted donations in addition to the drop in the exchange rate between the dollar and the shekel, resulting in dollar donations being worth less.
As such, the shluchim office was opened to cut operating costs for the visiting emissaries as well as providing services. The administrative and office services available facilitate operations for shluchim in NYC, and there are even staff members to assist with language difficulties. Other services might include assistance in completing and filing forms, tax exemptions requests, all towards permitting the visiting Israeli representative to busy himself with fundraising, freeing him from the burden of office and logistical management.
The office is especially beneficial for those smaller institutions unable to afford their own administrative support in America. The experts on staff in the shluchim office include a CPA, public relations professionals and production and logistical experts.
Those behind the project have commissioned a market study to reveal what services are most required/desired by shluchim. All the results from the Geocartographia institute headed by Prof. Avi Dagani will be presented within two months. The results will guide the steering committee which in turn will direct the shluchim of the torah institutions.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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7 Responses
Is anyone going to check the authenticity of those taking advantage if this service?
As a Rosh Kollel, does anyone know how I can contact this service?
As far as I have heard this is a combined effort with the organization Olam Hatorah http://www.torahindex.com. I believe that any meshulach from Eretz Yisroel should make sure that they are listed in the database.
I’m listed and on their email list, but I haven’t heard anything about this yet and there is no info on their website. Thanks though.
does this organization also find them jobs if they are not qualified to collect?
That would be the biggest favor to the real ones, to sift out the fakes.
What is the address of the office?
Someone who works/worked with meshulochim that I know, thinks this is an absolutely beautiful idea.
So do I. People do not understand the difficulties
meshulocim have in these areas.
Determining worthiness is a separate issue, but may be made easier in this setting, and finding jobs for those wanting them, would really also be helpful. Many of them would rather be doing other jobs, but cannot find anything else.