This morning we had a schnorer collecting money to help the poor buy Passover provisions.
Without going in to my opinion of schnorers from Israel coming to the States to beg, I will suggest that Rambam - Moses ben Maimon, a/k/a Maimonides - was right when he told us that our charity - check that, our obligation - begins at home and works outward:
* Family
* Jewish Community
* City
* Country
* Israel
* Rest of the World
While it is commendable to donate to schnorers from Israel, or, for that matter, any place, we need to set aside a greater portion for the poor in our midst. Trust me, there ARE Jewish poor, especially in this economy.
While we are told that even a poor person must give צדקה - and to repeat my earlier point, tzdakah is NOT "charity," it is an obligation that falls on all of us - we should distribute our resources to others based on Rambam's approach (ibid.).
Here in southeast Florida we have several food banks. There's a Jewish - therefore "kosher products" - food bank almost within walking distance. My wife occasionally works there and the food bank is a frequent debit entry into the check book. As it should be.
Typically, in Conservative and Reform congregations, the schnorer approaches the religious leader who gives from the congregation's Discretionary Fund. In so-called "Orthodox" congregations, the schnorers approach the rabbi who then lets the congregants know it's OK to donate; the schnorer's purpose it legitimate.
Here, most schnorers check in with a committee that issues - rubber stamps, actually - a document certifying the schnorer's purpose.
Pesach - Passover - is nigh. Passover prices likewise are both "nigh" and "high." Local food banks need help, both financial and physical.
If you don't know if there is a food bank - Jewish or otherwise - in your community, ask a rabbi or synagogue administrator. Check at the JCC or Federation office.
Failing that, check on line. I used the Dogpile (http://www.dogpile.com) search engine to find "Jewish food banks in South Florida" and got several hits. Unfortunately, the hits failed to include my nearby food bank. (Turns out "We Are One" lacks a Web presence, ergo no hit.)
Now - a note to food merchants.
I understand why prices are raised for the Passover buying season.
Supply and demand.
The manufacturers and wholesalers raise their prices as the demand from Jews who might keep "semi-kosher" for a meal or two increases. (Semi-kosher in that the food left the market kosher, then went into a non-kosher utensil to cook, later to be served on non-kosher plates and eaten with non-kosher knives, forks, and spoons. Still, if it is the thought that counts. . .) I cannot fault the food chain for the higher prices given the sudden, and brief, demand.
But we keep kosher year round.
It would be nice if one of the markets offered us either (a) coupons valid for Pesach products or (b) a discount card valid for Pesach products.
We have many kosher markets in the area; if any one offered a break to its regular customers on Pesach prices, we’d probably make that our primarily market. As would our circle of friends (mostly Sefardim/Mizrachim, so Bet Yosef/Halak meat is in order.)
I suggested this in the past, but the words always fell on deaf ears.
Back to the point: It's fine to give, directly or indirectly (via the congregation's Discretionary Fund), to out-of-town schorners, but remember to take care of the Jews in your own community.
And once Pesach is over, remember that people still have to eat; just because you celebrated memunah doesn't mean you should cease giving to the food bank.
Find a food bank in your community - ask at the synagogue, the JCC, the Federation - and support it however much you are able.
