Tzedaka Should Not Be a Given
We have entered a period of time where charitable non-profits have lost significant sources of funding. The population of those in need is only increasing. Given this new dynamic it is vital to remember that this is an environment where scammers exist and thrive.
A phone call comes in to the synagogue office. She is not a member but needs to talk to a rabbi: It’s very urgent. Years of experience tells me it can only be one of three things: illness, death or money.
Her car broke down and she needs $2,400 for a new transmission. But i cannot afford to take her word for it. Due diligence is necessary. I ask: where do you live, how did you come to me and who is going to repair the car? She tells me which repair shop. As I am at my desk, I use dr. google to find it – and surprise! It doesn’t exist.
The narrative changes. She is mixed up – after all, she is a diabetic and spent time in the ICU. It’s really a different shop, I ask for the name of the new shop – and dr. google shows it is the first shop that comes up.
I am pretty sure she is also sitting at her computer.
Who is going to fix the car? She gives me a name – and when I tell her I am going to call him to verify – she starts cursing me and threatens me with the police.
Later, on our local rabbinic listserv I find she has called other congregations with different stories.
I learned about scammers the hard way. On the first day of my first year at my last congregation a person came to the office asking for money. I gave him a small sum and thought nothing of it until three days later another person came – and then the floodgates opened. It turns out my predecessor always kept a wad of $5 bills to give out. I had inherited his generosity.
Except it was not what it seemed. I learned my congregation was at the confluence of two interstates, with both a nearby train station and bus stop. This set the dynamic for con artists to enter town and “make the rounds” of businesses and houses of worship.
How did I know? – I stopped giving out cash. A person would come in asking for some money for gas, or food or a train ticket – and I would offer to pay whatever was necessary (fill up the tank, buy them a meal or a ticket) – but they always refused. They wanted cash.
Ironically, the week I started this policy no one came around again — for over 20 years. And that allowed me to funnel greater sums of money to those in legitimate needs.
There is a lot of money to be made preying on the good intentions of those who have. The Talmud recognized this and taught that it is better to give to several cons if others in need also receive funds.
But there are ways to vet those in need that will insure that the funds we donate are put to better use.
