Ezras Yisroel FAQ'sWHO? WHAT? WHY? WHEN? HOW? What is Ezras Yisroel? Ezras Yisroel is a chessed organization that helps widows, orphans, scholars, the ill, and the needy. It was established with the encouragement of Rabbi Avrohom Yaakov Pam zt"l, and with the strong endorsement of gedolei Yisroel. It continues to operate under their leadership and guidance. Ezras Yisroel helps the poor all year long. On Purim, Ezras Yisroel conducts a massive matanos l'evyonim campaign. We collect and distribute tzedakah across the United States. Ezras Yisroel's Purim campaign has earned the acclaim of gedolei hador shlita. Rabbonim are involved in every aspect of our campaign. And many gedolim personally distribute funds on Purim. Why should I give my matanos l'evyonim through Ezras Yisroel? I know people in need, and I can give it to them myself! If you know a person or family in need, and you are certain that they are halachically qualified to receive matanos l'evyonim, please give them all you can. If, however, you don't know anybody in need, you should consider giving your matanos l'evyonim through Ezras Yisroel. We will distribute it on Purim to evyonim who have been screened by our rabbinical board. Of course, please continue to give to the poor people you meet - Chazal tell us to give to all who stretch out their hands to us. But to fulfill your matanos l'evyonim obligation, give your money through Ezras Yisroel. The Rambam says that the greatest form of tzedakah is when the giver does not know who is recieving his charity, and the recipient doesn't know who gave it. When you give through Ezras Yisroel, you perform tzedakah in this beautiful way - true mehadrin min hamehadrin. Who does Ezras Yisroel help? Ezras Yisroel helps widows, orphans, the poor, the ill, and talmidei chachomim - true evyonim, who are desperate for assistance. They are the hungry and the debt-ridden. They may be facing medical bills or eviction. But no matter who they are, and what they lack, we know that they are evyonim, because our rabbinical board approves each recipient. How can you distribute all of the money collected, bo b'yom - on Purim? It is a difficult challenge - but we are equipped to handle it. Every single matanos l'evyonim donation is distributed on Purim - guaranteed. Ezras Yisroel appoints gabbaei tzeddakah in every participating community. And volunteers dedicate the entire Purim day to distributing funds! They do not go home - not even for the Purim seudah. And they spend weeks before Purim making arrangements, so that the money you give through Ezras Yisroel is sure to reach the poor on Purim. How can I know that the money i give will be passed on to two people, in accordance with the mitzva? According to the rabbonim on our Rabbinical Board, when a person wants to fulfill his complete Purim obligation through Ezras Yisroel, he should have in mind that he is giving tzeddakah to two people. Rabbonim have ruled that tzedakah funds are considered to be distributed according to the intent of the giver. If one intends to give to two people, he can be assured that his money will reach two people. How much of my donation goes to the poor? How much goes towards administrative expenses? One hundred percent of your donation goes directly to the poor. Ezras Yisroel is run by unsalaried volunteers. We have no overhead expenses. Printing, postage, and miscellaneous expenses are covered by independent donors - not a cent of the money you send for the poor goes for anything else. When do I have to give my money to Ezras Yisroel to ensure that it gets distributed on Purim? Can you distribute funds received on Purim? You can send your matanos l'evyonim to Ezras Yisroel today! When you give us your matanos l'evyonim, we hold onto it for you, until Purim. Then, on Purim, we become your designated shaliach - your messenger. And by sending it during our matanos l'evyonim compaign, you are letting us know that you want your money distributed on Purim. It is as if you distributed it on your own, on Purim. Give your gift to an Ezras Yisroel gabbei tzedakah in your shul today. Or, send it to us in any of the other ways listed below. We are ready to process it. You can give Ezras Yisroel your matanos l'evyonim up until 5:30 PM EST,on Purim, March 18. We guarantee that all donations received by that time will reach the poor on Purim. But please try to send us your matanos l'evyonim sooner. It makes it easier for us - and it gives our Rabbinical Board more time to decide who will receive a matanos l'evyonim gift this year. What if people give you pledges, post-dated checks or pay in installments? Is the money distributed on Purim, even if it is not due to be paid until later? Every donation is distributed on Purim - even if you post-date your checks, or if you pay in installments that come due after Purim. And because we become your shluchim, your messengers, you perform the mitzvah, lichatchila - perfectly. How can Ezras Yisroel cover the money that hasn't come due? We take out a tremendous loan before Purim - enough to cover for all of the pledges, checks and payment installments that are scheduled to come due after Purim. We use the money for matanos l'evyonim, on Purim, and pay back the loan as payments and checks come due. What about people who cannot come to a gabbai tzedakah in shul, and haven't sent in their donation in advance? Can they take part in Ezras Yisroel's matanos l'evyonim campaign? Yes! The Ezras Yisroel Purim Hotline accepts donations on the phone, using a credit card. Donations can be called in up to 5:30 PM EST on Purim to ensure Purim delivery. HOW CAN I GIVE? In person - give your donation to your our gabbai in your shul. Names of gabboim are posted in
your shul or neighborhood.
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