There is one practice in the Torah world that is very common and in my view very wrong. It is the practice of making an automatic second Mi SheBerach after an Aliyah on Shabbos in exchange for a donation. An individual will be called to the Torah for his Aliyah. After the reading of his Torah portion he will make the second blessing. That is followed immediately with a Mi SheBerach, a request from God to bless the individual who just performed the great Mitzvah of blessing the Torah and then either reading his portion himself, or having the Baal Koreh do it as his Shaliach, his agent.
But in many Shuls it doesn’t end there. A second Mi SheBerach is automatically added. The Oleh (person who was called to the Torah) is turned to in the middle of the Mi SheBerach and asked who else he wants to request of God to be blessed. At that point people will mention any number of names, usually, but not limited to, immediate family members. Near the end of that Mi SheBerach there is a portion that states that the Oleh pledges money to the Shul as part of it the request for a Godly blessing for those he included in the Mi SheBerach.
Aside from lengthening the amount of time spent in Shul, this practice in my view is nothing short of extortion. It is bad enough that these Mi Sheberachs are of questionable origin. I have yet to see it in any Siddur I’ve looked into. But assuming they are even legitimate, to make them automatic is just plain wrong. One should at least be asked if he wants one made. By doing it automatically and demanding a donation as part of it, it becomes something far less than a Kibud, the honor it is supposed to be. It instead becomes a burden.
But what is an Oleh to do? He is a “prisoner of circumstance”… too embarrassed to not give anything. So he will pledge something.
Now no Shul demands any specific amount. What ever an individual wants to give is accepted graciously. But that doesn’t change the fact that it is a forced donation. It doesn’t really matter that one can donate even an insignificant amount if he chooses to fulfill his obligation that way. Often people will just say the word 'Matanah' (gift) in the “pledge space” of the Mi sheberach. And then he can give as little as he wants… even a penny. But it doesn’t matter. It is extortion no less. And it is wrong.
I know many Shuls need the money. They often operate in a constant state of debt and provide a great service to their community. They deserve to be supported by their community. And they may very well consider this an indispensable way of raising badly needed funds. I’m told quite a bit of money is raised that way over the course of a year. But that still doesn’t make it right.
One might ask, “Why not just refuse the Aliyah?” It doesn’t work that way. It’s not right to refuse an Aliyah to the Torah and one does not embarrass himself by refusing it. Nor does one embarrass himself by telling the Shul to refrain from the second Misheberach when it is always done. That would be wrong, too. So you are called to the Torah and once the Aliyah is over, you owe the Shul… something.
What right do Shuls have to extort money in this way? What justification is there? What is the Halachic basis for this extortion? Yet, it is an accepted practice in many Shuls. And I am here to inform everyone who reads this blog that Halacha does not require anyone to pay any pledge that is extracted in this way. It is not a pledge at all but extortion, albeit for a good cause. How do I know that one does not have to pay any pledge made in a forced Mi SheBerach situation?
The subject came up during the course of learning Shas. Several years ago, Rabbi Yosef Gavriel Bechhofer informed me and the rest of my Daf Yomi Shiur on the basis of a respected Posek that one is not obligated to pay such “pledges”. However one must be careful not answer Amen to the MiSheberach.
And that has been my policy ever since. If an organization wants a donation it ought to be up front and ask for one directly. This is how I give Tzedaka. I see a need and if I am sympathetic to it, I give to the best of my ability. I never turn down any individual who is in need and asks me for donation. But attempt at extortion, no matter how Frum a Mi SheBerach may sound our how needy the Shul, will get a big zero.
Modified: 3/18/07 - 6:50 CDT
