Charity Fraud: Everyone Can Ask For The Same Thing

Recently, the US Government announced a crackdown on charity Fraud.

Fraudulent charity requests are fairly ancient. The Gemara Bava Basra

אָמַר רַב הוּנָא: בּוֹדְקִין לִמְזוֹנוֹת, וְאֵין בּוֹדְקִין לִכְסוּת – אִי בָּעֵית אֵימָא קְרָא, וְאִי בָּעֵית אֵימָא סְבָרָא;

Rav Huna says: Charity collectors examine the level of poverty of one who asks for food, but they do not examine the level of poverty of one who asks for clothing. If a person comes before the charity collectors in tattered clothes, he is given clothing without any questions being asked.

https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Batra.9a.6

Rashi explains that the concern is for fraud

בודקין למזונות – אם בא עני ואמר פרנסוני בודקין שלא יהיה רמאי:

https://www.sefaria.org/Rashi_on_Bava_Batra.9a.6.1

The word indicating “fraud” is רמאי rammai

However, the final halacha follows Rav Yehuda

וְרַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר: בּוֹדְקִין לִכְסוּת, וְאֵין בּוֹדְקִין לִמְזוֹנוֹת;

And Rav Yehuda says just the opposite: Charity collectors examine the level of poverty of one who asks for clothing, but they do not examine the level of poverty of one who asks for food.

https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Batra.9a.8

The Rambam very clearly summarizes the rule

עָנִי שֶׁאֵין מַכִּירִין אוֹתוֹ וְאָמַר רָעֵב אֲנִי הַאֲכִילוּנִי אֵין בּוֹדְקִין אַחֲרָיו שֶׁמָּא רַמַּאי הוּא אֶלָּא מְפַרְנְסִין אוֹתוֹ מִיָּד. הָיָה עֵרוֹם וְאָמַר כַּסּוּנִי בּוֹדְקִין אַחֲרָיו שֶׁמָּא רַמַּאי הוּא. וְאִם הָיוּ מַכִּירִין אוֹתוֹ מְכַסִּין אוֹתוֹ לְפִי כְּבוֹדוֹ מִיָּד וְאֵין בּוֹדְקִין אַחֲרָיו:

When a poor person whose identity is unknown says: “I am hungry, provide me with food,” we do not investigate whether he is a deceiver. Instead, we provide him with sustenance immediately. If he was unclothed and he said: “Clothe me,” we investigate whether he is a deceiver. If we are familiar with him, we clothe him according to his honor immediately and we do not investigate the matter.

https://www.sefaria.org/Mishneh_Torah,_Gifts_to_the_Poor.7.6

This rule is repeated in Tur Yoreh Deah 251 and codified in Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 251:10. The commentary Tzofnas Paneach on the Rambam quoted above even mentions needing to know that the fraudster is Jewish, let alone a Jewish fraudster. Needless to say: the gemara is very clear that someone asking for money, unless the situation is dire, has no mitzvah of giving charity in a case of doubt.

I was presented with an interesting question recently in Yerushalayim, the Holy City, where a certain person was walking around and requesting help for Hachnosas Kallah, or helping a bride get married. The Chofetz Chaim in Ahavas Chessed III:6:3 iterates that this is a great mitzvah to raise money for the wedding of a bride, and should be performed by every person possible. Of course, I was approached by a very zealous woman on Yafo who requested money for this mitzvah. I responded in Yiddish that whole world is getting this unknown Kallah married. Well, I unlocked a new badge with that line, because the woman responded very intently (in Yiddish) that is a very important thing to do. I cut her off (in Yiddish) with “that’s enough”. Unfortunately, she didn’t stick around to hear the rest of the story

The Shach cites Maharam Alashker that this particular mitzvah is only for a girl that has lost her father, but not for a girl whose father lacks means

בתולות עניות כו’. ובתשובת הר”מ אלשקר סי’ ע”ב כתב דדוקא יתומות אבל לא ידעתי אם יכולים הקהל להשיא עניה שאין לאביה יכולת להשיאה בדבר של הקדש ששם בעליו עליו ואם נקרא זה דרך של מצוה כו’ וע”ש:

https://www.sefaria.org/Siftei_Kohen_on_Shulchan_Arukh,_Yoreh_De’ah.249.11.1

And the Gra here as well quotes the gemara in Kesubos that it’s only for one who was orphaned

גבאי כו’. כמ”ש בכתובות ס”ז ת”ר יתום כו’ לו זו אשה כו’ ושם יתום ויתומה שבאו כו’ וכן במתני’ שם וכן המשיא כו’:

https://www.sefaria.org/Beur_HaGra_on_Shulchan_Arukh,_Yoreh_De’ah.249.19

It’s too bad she didn’t stick around to learn the halacha, but it’s important to teach it to everyone anyhow. Don’t be fooled by frauds. Know the halacha, and don’t be bullied or intimidated into giving to something that’s not a mitzvah.

Gmar Chasima Tovah