Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site aecom.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!unc!mcnc!philabs!aecom!teitz From: teitz@aecom.UUCP (Eliyahu Teitz) Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish Subject: Re: Re: fundraising follow-up Message-ID: <1030@aecom.UUCP> Date: Mon, 17-Dec-84 12:20:24 EST Article-I.D.: aecom.1030 Posted: Mon Dec 17 12:20:24 1984 Date-Received: Wed, 19-Dec-84 03:33:44 EST References: <1776@ucf-cs.UUCP> <206@mhuxv.UUCP> Organization: Albert Einstein Coll. of Med., NY Lines: 49 > [] > 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 > -- The idea of a mi-sheberach is not the one's prayer is better than another's. If oe simply translates the words, one sees this is not the idea. Mi shemerach, He who blessed our forefathers ( meaning G-D ) should bless the person who just received the aliyah ( was just called up to the E Torah ) and protect him from sickness etc. Another Mi sheberach is usually made for the family of the person just called to the Torah. In this prayer again we say that G-D who blessed our Patriarchs should bless the listed people ( wife, children friends of the one who was called to the Torah ). The question is why should G-D watch over these people any more than over anyone else. The person who was called to the Torah should be protected because he was called to honor the Torah, the Sabbath, or the Holiday depending on when the Aliyah was given. These other people, however, did not rise to honor anything so why should they get singled out. To this the answer is, as the prayer says : "Baavur shenadar", because he, the one who received the Aliyah pledged, and the pledge is usually money. The prayer could be said without the pledge, and in our shul we do not force anyone to give money, and then it is still the same request for protection and is just as valid a one accompanied by a large donation. Another reason for donating money when one gets an Aliyah is this: rightfully the seven most distinguished people in the congregation( disting- uished by their learning ) should get called to the Torah every week. If, however, the Aliyah is sold, then there are rights to Aliyot ( plural of Aliyah )and anyone can buy an Aliyah ( even a non Cohen buying the first Aliyah ). On the High Holidays some congregations have the custom of selling Aliyot, in order to show te importance of getting an Aliyah( to show how dear the honor is, that people would spend money on it. it also helps as a fund raiser ). I hope this has clarified the matter somewhat. Eliyahu Teitz.