By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal
SAN DIEGO — Although helping those in need is one of my fundamental guiding principles, I rarely give to individuals who solicit funds on street corners. When someone with a sign reading “Anything Helps. God Bless” walks by my car I usually look away.
I am never sure whether such people have genuine needs or if they will use the money for alcohol or drugs. I instead prefer to give to established organizations, such as Jewish Family Service, that make sure the homeless and needy receive appropriate assistance.
Yet I must admit, that I often second guess my decisions. What if the homeless or jobless person I am ignoring is hungry, cold, or has some other genuine need? Is it right to ignore them because others take advantage?
I have been especially cognizant of this conflict since my last trip to Israel. One night, as I was taking a walk on the promenade by the Tel Aviv beach, I saw a man searching the bushes, obviously an African refugee or guest worker. I wasn’t sure what he was doing, but in retrospect, he was probably searching for bottles to redeem for cash. On my way back to my hotel I passed him again, but this time he was sleeping on the ground. He looked emaciated.
He was not begging or panhandling, but was clearly in distress. I followed my usual custom and walked past. I have regretted my decision ever since. I should have given him some money or at least some food. I can still see him sleeping on the ground.
Darkness was the ninth plague that God brought upon the Egyptians: “Moses held out his arm toward the sky and thick darkness descended upon all the land of Egypt for three days. People could not see one another…” (Ex. 10:22-23)
Commenting upon this verse, Rabbi Mordechai Cohen wrote: “‘People could not see one another.’ When people only care about themselves and do not see and are not concerned about their fellow human beings, there is no darkness greater than this.”
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Rabbi Rosenthal is spiritual leader of Tifereth Israel Synagogue in San Diego. He may be contacted via leonard.rosenthal@sdjewishworld.com