July..August 2001 - תַּמּוּז .. אָב .. אֱלוּל תשס״א Tammuz..Av..Elul 5761

Soon, many if not most of us will be receiving tax rebate checks from the Federal Government. For some of us, this money represents medication that may have been too expensive, or a necessary credit card payment. The tax rebate for some will be an important resource for the family or individual budget. But for many if not most of us, this is an unexpected windfall that will not greatly effect our lives and the lives of our families.

However, many social programs helping the poor and the weak will be cut in order to make this money available for this tax cut. And perhaps even more pressing at this moment, the State of Israel needs our moral and financial support. Israel with one of the strongest economies in Europe is suffering because of the drop in tourism, its second largest industry. I feel a moral obligation to help those Israelis who make possible our visits to our other homeland. Especially in view of the need to cancel the Federation/Midrasha youth trip this summer, I am hoping that we can beat the terrorists by sending our money if not our bodies during these difficult times.

Today, fully aware that the synagogue is requesting even more of your family or individual budget through the dues increase, I would still like to urge members of Temple Beth Sholom to set up a Tzedakah Collective in order to donate as much of our tax rebate checks as we can to the some of these worthwhile causes.

A Tzedakah Collective is different from a ‘Social Action Fund’ in that its purpose is not to fund synagogue social action programs, but rather a way to pool individual's money to have a greater impact and disburse these funds to worthy organizations and causes. While the ‘members’ of a collective can decide to give the money to whatever cause they deem appropriate, they may want to pay special attention to those areas that will be particularly adversely affected by the new federal budget — programs for the needy, reproductive rights, the environment, and organizations working to maintain the separation of church and state.

Please consider setting aside a portion of your tax rebate check for the Temple Beth Sholom Tzedakah Collective.

—Rabbi Harry A. Manhoff, Ph.D.

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