Why Josh Can't Be Left Alone

It seems Skokie is being flooded with visiting Meshulachim from who knows where. There were a few at Mincha yesterday, Shacharis today, and mincha today. And I was at three different synagogues. Guess how much I contributed to the cause? Zero. Not that I don't want to give Tzedaka. Or that these collectors aren't worthy (They all had green cards). But I can't just give to everybody, just because they come up to me personally. People give them because they can't say no. But you can't be intimidated into giving charity. I'll just stick to my predetermined sources, and feel comfortable with that.

But what's with the whole Green Card phenomenon? Agudas Yisroel gives cards out to people that come from abroad to collect. This is supposed to give reassurance to the giver that these are not frauds. But doesn't it just further the problem? Now anyone who wants to collect is given the green light to circulate at hundreds of institutions around the country. Why work when you can collect $10,000 in a matter of a few weeks, and see the world while you're at it. Not that Schnorring is a picnic. But aren't these people just circumventing the communal institutions that are meant to deal with fundraising for communal needs? Don't they assume more than their fair share of collections? Donors give less to organizations after having contributed to these individuals, so these collectors are basically taking more than the next needy guy. Soon enough, they all have to come if they want to eat...