But Is It Tzedakah? by Rabbi Yair Hoffman

5tjt   A couple of years ago, a wealthy individual from Lawrence wanted to produce a documentary on “Meshulachim” and those who collect Tzedakah in shuls.  One of those to be interviewed was told that he would receive a rather large sum of money if he would merely answer a few questions honestly.  It was an opportunity to earn significantly more than he was to make by soliciting funds.The arrangement was that, while he did not have to volunteer information, he did have to answer all of the questions to be posed in an honest manner.  If there was any question as to his honesty, he would not receive the funds.  The person readily agreed to the arrangement.

The exchange went something along the lines of this:

“Good morning, what are you collecting for?”

“Hachnasas Kallah.”

“Mazal Tov! Whose hachnasas kallah?”

“Well, my own.”

 “Mazal Tov!  When is the wedding?”

 “Well the date has not been established yet.”

 “Okay.  Where is the Kallah from?”

“There is no Kallah yet, I have not found her yet.”

 “Oh, I see.”

“How much, do you collect on average per week?”

 “Between $700 to $800 per week..”

We will stop at this point in the conversation to get to the halachic topic at hand.  Is there a communal obligation to support an individual who purposefully chooses not to work, but rather to collect charitable funds?  [...]