April 16, 2009 | Read Time: 1 minute
As Jewish charities face a financial crisis brought on by the economic downturn and the Ponzi scheme perpetrated by Bernard Madoff, donors to Jewish causes need to work together and prioritize their giving on efforts that help many people, says an editorial in The Jerusalem Post.
“When times are good, no one begrudges an affluent person their philanthropic dalliances,” says the article. “But these are not ordinary times. And the needs of the many deserve priority.”
The article also suggests that charities that assist Jews need to be winnowed.
“The trouble is that the community has grown so hyper-pluralist that coherence doesn’t come easy. There are too many organizations and there is too much competition for resources. No organization dares admit that it’s superfluous,” it says. “Rich people, along with just plain folk, can always be convinced to part with their money — sometimes for worthy causes and sometimes not.”
Other people have raised similar concerns about the whole nonprofit world. Read The Chronicle’s article about whether the recession could — and maybe should — lead to a decline in the number of American charities.
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What do you think? What priorities should Jewish donors have during the recession?
