Purim tzedakah for out-of-towners

Jewish Israelis and New Yorkers collecting donations for their organizations or themselves look at Chicago on a map and see a convenient ATM. This increases pressure on Chicago organizations because of all the competition. A local organization printed signs posted at synagogues across Chicagoland noting that $1 million is donated on Purim, and 90 percent of that leaves our community.

That's outrageous. Nearly a decade ago, I attended a reception for young single men at the palatial home of a wealthy community member who is very involved in community philanthropy. "There is no problem elsewhere that doesn't exist in our own community," he said. Some members of the community do quite well. Others are struggling to get by, and that's especially true now. Tuition and, in Illinois, taxes, never decrease. Kosher food is always expensive, especially for Passover, the Sabbath and holidays. "Charity begins at home." So why are we letting so much of our community resources leave town? The organization that certifies men to collect funds could solve the problem simply by not issuing permits ("green cards") during Purim week. That would probably be unfair. Another solution is what one family did: the family posted a sign on its front door that said "No donations for out-of-town" in Hebrew and English. I overheard a man tell a friend he was donating $3 in town for every $1 he gave out of town during Purim. That policy would certainly help turn around this ongoing problem without being mean-spirited.