Re: The cost of Jewish communal responsibility

[Marvin Margoshes <physchem...>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "BlackMonk" <BlackMonk (at) email(dot)msn(dot)com>
To: "World music from a Jewish slant" <jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org>
Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2003 11:59 PM
Subject: Re: The cost of Jewish communal responsibility


>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Sam Weiss" <SamWeiss (at) bellatlantic(dot)net>
> To: "World music from a Jewish slant" <jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org>
> Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2003 10:05 PM
> Subject: The cost of Jewish communal responsibility
>
>
>
> > >Is it wrong for us to believe that the organized Jewish community
should
> > >be opening its arms to people wishing to join, rather than first
handing
> > >people an itemized bill as a precondition to entry?
> >
> > It is the rare synagogue that does not make accommodations for financial
> > hardship situations when those wishing to join present their case
> > appropriately.
>
> "Present their case appropriately" meaning jump through hoops and
humiliate
> themselves.

In the shul I know best, these cases are handled by a select committee, in
confidence.  Even the other members of the Board know who is getting free or
reduced dues membership.
>
> Being poor is demeaning enough. Having to ask for charity to attend Yom
> Kippur services makes things a lot worse.

It would be wonderful if it were free, but the reality is that the
synagogues can't afford it.  Mine makesthe service on the second day of Rosh
Hashonah free, but we barely have room for our members at the other
services.

>
> I supect several mitzvot are being violated by having such a requirement.
>
>  But it is also the rare synagogue administration
> > irresponsible enough to make believe that an institution's budget can be
> > balance on good will alone.  If one honestly feels that he cannot afford
> > something which he wants and values, there should be no shame attached
to
> > asking for financial leniency in an honest and forthright way,
>
> Easy to say when you're not the one doing the asking.
>
> instead of
> > wishing -- as in a fairy tale -- that things could be free, that
synagogue
> > utilities and salaries and facility maintenance and capital improvements
> > and communal charity needs etc. etc. would be magically paid for
> > by.....  By whom?  By the local Catholic diocese?
> >
> > >I have never heard of a Christian church turning away worshippers, even
> on
> > >Christmas or Easter
> >
> > Because responsible community-minded Christians -- even those who only
> > attend services on Christmas -- know the value of supporting THEIR
church,
> > THEIR pastor, THEIR soup kitchen =all year round, and all of their
> > life=.  This is a fact of life which many otherwise culturally savvy
Jews
> > have trouble understanding.
>
> And the only solution is a sort of spiritual blackmail?
>
>
> Let's see. What are those mitzvot being violated. Stumbling block before
the
> blind, since this can drive away anyone uncertain about whether or not
they
> should practice Judaism, embarassing others,  the phrase "shanda for the
> goyim" also comes to mind.

The "goyim" usually take up a collection at every service, and everyone can
see who gives and who doesn't.
>
>



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