TIZKU L'MITZVOS

This week, while Dovbear is temporarily abstracted, he left the keys in the ignition and the motor running.....

No, that wasn't an invitation to carjack the Benz, but an indication that there will be several guest-posters on Dov's blog (http://dovbear.blogspot.com/).


One of them being Mis-Nagid, who wrote this post:http://dovbear.blogspot.com/2006/06/money-matters.html

In short, a heart-string tug, a moral lesson, and an imperative to donate to charity.


He argues that charity is one of the fundamental precepts of Judaism..... With which I disagree, considering it one of the fundamental precepts of civilization.
[Or you could call it a shared value. Whatever. It isn't limited.]

If we cannot assist those who are less fortunate, in what way do we deserve to be better off than them?
Yes yes, I know the Calvinist answer to that question, and I know the white-trash answer. Both are mistaken, and the suggestion that they are poor because they are undeserving is a load of codswallop. Not everyone is equally lucky or has equal chances, and sometimes things go disastrously wrong.

[I believe I know what I'm talking about - I do commercial collections, and you would not believe how many decent hard-working merchants have lost their nest-egg and everything else in the last four years. The most admirable people go broke as easily as everybody else.]


As part of his post, Mis-nagid suggest donating to Masbia, an organization that runs a kosher soup kitchen for the needy in Boro Park.

It is a worthwhile cause. Wherefore I too urge you to donate. Your soul will be the better for it.


SHOVE SOME MONEY WHERE IT HURTS - CLICK HERE:
https://www.masbia.org/donate.asp


[Oh, I hear you ask why you should donate to a kosher soup kitchen for the needy in Boro Park, when you yourself do not keep kosher, can't stand soup, and actually live in Brussels?

Dude, who said that this is the only organization to which you should donate? Donate to Masbia in addition to whatever else worthwhile you give money to, not instead. Donate to other charitable causes in addition to Masbia. Do not limit yourself, develop some self-confidence. And thank you.]