Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/3/84; site mhuxv.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxj!mhuxh!mhuxv!segs From: segs@mhuxv.UUCP (slusky) Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish Subject: Re: fundraising follow-up Message-ID: <206@mhuxv.UUCP> Date: Tue, 11-Dec-84 14:38:22 EST Article-I.D.: mhuxv.206 Posted: Tue Dec 11 14:38:22 1984 Date-Received: Wed, 12-Dec-84 04:37:22 EST References: <1776@ucf-cs.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill Lines: 18 [] The fundraising article of several weeks ago brought up mi-she-beyrakh's and the practice of using them as a fundraising technique. Not only do I not like them as a fundraising technique, I'm doubtful about their propriety even when they're free. The implication of a mishebeyrakh is that the reciter has more spiritual power than the person on whose behalf the prayer is being recited. To be charitable, one could say that extra power is derived from the congregation. Even so, it seems an un Jewish idea that one person's prayers are more powerful than another's. I'd be a little happier with a prayer recited by the congregation on behalf of one member. Then the implication would be that many are more powerful than one. But I'm uneasy about that as well. Can someone convince me that mishebeyrach's are really okay? And are they common practice all over? Susan Slusky mhuxv!segs --