Our Views

No Tsunami Money From Me

by Shmuel Sackett 

Everywhere I look money is being raised for the victims of the Tsunami disaster. Hollywood stars are giving money, President George W. Bush donated $10,000, the NY Daily News spearheaded a campaign and the American Red Cross is soliciting funds. I expected that and am happy it is being done.

What shocked me is when Jewish organizations, specifically Torah observant ones, jumped on this bandwagon. These individuals and institutions should be ashamed of themselves and I want them all to know that from me, they won't get a dime. Not one penny of my hard earned Jewish money will go to the Tsunami victims.

Am I being insensitive? Unfair? Too harsh? Racist? I don't think so. Actually, I am being Jewish. Sometimes Judaism contradicts Western culture and this is a glaring example.

While the Torah teaches us to be sensitive to the needs of others it is emphatic about making sure Jewish money takes care of -- first and foremost -- Jewish causes. The Torah clearly says that the poor of one's city come first. This means that when giving charity we must help those in need in our own city. This is not an option… it is an obligation.

Do you realize how many people in Jewish neighborhoods go to sleep hungry each night? Have you seen how many Shabbat food packages go out each week… and how many more would go if there were additional funds?

Have you any idea how ill equipped many emergency Hatzalah volunteers are, lacking basic equipment to keep Jews alive?

Have you counted how many Jewish kids roam the streets of "religious neighborhoods" each day, smoking and hanging out? What makes this situation intolerable is that many fine programs exist to help these teens but they lack the resources necessary to expand and reach everybody.

How about Israel? How about helping to alleviate the unbearable poverty that exists there today? According to last month's National Insurance (Bituach Leumi) report, 1.426 million Jews live below the poverty line in Israel. That's 22.4% of the entire population!!!

Are we forgetting our own brothers and sisters???

I was thinking about writing this article for a while, and held off, until I read the most shocking thing of all. A Yeshiva, located in the Five Towns of Long Island, is raising money to restore schools in Sri Lanka. The Five Towns Jewish Times reported that this school, Rambam Mesivta, raised $5,000 in a single day. "The donation will be presented by a group of Rambam students at a ceremony at the Sri Lankan UN embassy."

Helping Sri Lankan schools with Jewish money??? Are we mad?

Normally, I love Rambam Mesivta. They have an excellent Torah studies program, their secular learning is on a high level and I appreciate and applaud their emphasis on activism. I loved this combination so much that when I began my shlichut a few years ago and needed a Yeshiva for my son to finish high school, I chose Rambam Mesivta. The choice proved to be the right one and he -- and I -- enjoyed every minute of his Rambam experience. He remains close with the Rabbonim and administration to this day. Nevertheless, when I saw their recent project to raise Jewish money for Sri Lankan schools, I felt compelled, and obligated, to protest.

Allow me to tell you a little about the country of Sri Lanka. It is an island in the Indian Ocean, just south of India. 20 million people live in Sri Lanka and 70% are idol worshipping Buddhists. An ethnic war is going on for the last 20 years between the Sinhalese majority (74% of the population) and the Tamil (18%). Over 100,000 people have been killed in this ethnic cleansing battle. The government, led by the Sinhalese, have set up 131 refugee camps for the Tamil and most of them live there, in unbearable conditions.

While Sri Lanka seems to care very little about close to 4 million Tamil people who live in their own country, they are deeply concerned with the 2 million Palestinians who live in Israel. Sri Lanka has always -- 100% of the time -- voted against Israel in the UN.

Recently a vote was taken in the UN on Resolution 54/37. The text read: "Israel's imposition of its own laws, jurisdiction and administration on the Holy City of Jerusalem is illegal, null and void." Sri Lanka supported that vote.

Shortly after that, Resolution 54/38 was voted on which called for Israel to immediately surrender the Golan Heights to Syria. Sri Lanka supported that vote as well.

Sri Lanka is in full support of the UN's "Palestinian Rights Committee" and urges Israel to accept the return of all Palestinian refugees.

What makes matters worse is the fact that this Jew hating, Israel bashing, idol worshipping country teaches this to their children in schools that are now being restored thanks to the "Kids for Kids of Sri Lanka" program founded by Rambam Mesivta of Lawrence.

My heart bleeds when I think of this. My Jewish souls cries when I remember how my children went to Yeshivot in Karnei Shomron and Kedumim and studied in trailers with no heat in the winter, sitting the entire day in coats and hats.

How about a "Kids for Kids" program for the 400 children in Atzmona who attend school and have no playground? How about a "Kids for Kids" program to restore the schools in Itamar and Otniel, which were attacked by terrorists paying with young Jewish lives?

When will we learn that Jewish money must remain in Jewish hands until every Jew has what to eat, where to go to school and receives proper medical care? Does every Jewish bride have a nice dress? Are our elderly being cared for? Are the security needs of those Jews living on "the front lines" attended to adequately? Are the "outreach" programs properly funded?

Until every one of those questions is answered in the affirmative, I am not giving a penny to the Tsunami relief effort. The only exception to this rule would be to the Chabad of Thailand that has been assisting Jewish families in their search for missing loved ones. Other than that, forget it.

I am a proud Jew who gives exclusively to Jewish causes. Above all, I will never give a penny to the "Jewish Enemy Club" of which Sri Lanka is an honored member.