There are certain people who give tz’dakah because they feel it is a calling in life. Others give because they are pressured to donate, or to show the world just how generous they are. Some people like to see their money being put to immediate use and are happy to donate to poor people or organizations that assist the indigent.
Others prefer to give to big institutions where they know that their money is used for a higher purpose and they can go to visit the yeshivah, or school, or campus, that they donated to and feel a sense of satisfaction about their good deed. There are some benefactors who are exclusive and will absolutely not give to poor people, or absolutely not give to a yeshivah. In those cases, it is almost impossible to change the giver’s mind about where to give the money to, and that’s usually the end of the story.
But not always. With the right sales pitch, a man’s mind can be changed. In fact, the famed gabbai tz’dakah, Reb Yehoshua Rosenblatt z”l, had a knack for knowing just how to get wealthy people to give charity, even to places that they weren’t planning to give to. Reb Yehoshua, it was said, could literally squeeze water out of a stone.
On one occasion, he was traveling in the United States on behalf of a poor family that could not make ends meet. He was told of a wealthy and generous man who loved to give tz’dakah – but only to yeshivos and never to private collectors. “Don’t waste your time,” he was told, by a friend who was collecting for a large and well-known yeshivah. “He never gives to private individuals.” But Reb Yehoshua was adamant and pleaded with his friend to allow him to come along.
The man relented and the two entered the rich man’s home. The friend was welcomed in warmly and a large check was soon forthcoming. When it was Reb Yehoshua’s turn, the man was totally uninterested in his cause, and no matter what he said, it didn’t make any impression whatsoever. When the man finally stood up to escort his guests to the door, Reb Yehoshua decided on one last-ditch attempt. He turned to the man and said, “Look, here’s the bottom line: I need to raise $10,000 for this desperate family in Bnei Brak. Normally, I take one third of the donation for my fee. So, the money that goes to the family comes out to $6,666, which you can pay in a check or money order, made out to the family. However, my share – $3,333 – I really need the money in cash. So, if you don’t mind, please give me the cash and send them the check.”
The rich man stopped walking, and his smile faded instantly. He turned red and started screaming in anger. “How dare you? What a chutzpah! You call yourself a gabbai tz’dakah? Get out of my house right now! And don’t ever come back!”
Reb Yehoshua quickly left the house, and his friend was shocked as well. How could someone be so brazen as to say such a thing? The man was obviously not giving him a penny, and then to say to give the poor family a check while he needed his hefty share in cash? The man demanded an answer, but Reb Yehoshua just smiled the whole way home.
The very next day, Reb Yehoshua received a phone call from the head of the tz’dakah organization to which he was associated back in Bnei Brak, and to which he directed all charity checks to be made out to. The man on the line was in shock. “How did you get money out of this g’vir?” he asked incredulously. “We have tried many times to get money from him for needy causes and he always says no. He only gives to yeshivos and large institutions! But early this morning, which must have been late at night in America, we received a phone call from this man, authorizing a wire transfer of $6,666 to our mosad on behalf of this poor family. The man sounded angry when he called, and he made it very clear that he was only sending this amount of money and not one penny more for the horrible man who came to him yesterday!”
Reb Yehoshua laughed out loud. “Don’t you see? This man has a good heart and really wants to give tz’dakah. But he is afraid that money collectors are trying to take advantage of him. That’s why he only gives to well-known institutions. But I gave him a way out! He right away saw that the money collector who came to him yesterday was clearly trying to rip him off. But he is too smart for that. He won’t get ripped off. He’ll give to the poor family and not one penny for me!”
Rabbi Dovid Hoffman is the author of the popular “Torah Tavlin” book series, filled with stories, wit and hundreds of divrei Torah, including the brand new “Torah Tavlin Yamim Noraim” in stores everywhere. You’ll love this popular series. Also look for his book, “Heroes of Spirit,” containing one hundred fascinating stories on the Holocaust. They are fantastic gifts, available in all Judaica bookstores and online at http://israelbookshoppublications.com. To receive Rabbi Hoffman’s weekly “Torah Tavlin” sheet on the parsha, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
