Mishmeres HaSholom: Ask the Rav

Q: The administrator of a tzedakah organization approached me about a family who submitted a request for a monthly stipend from the neighborhood kupat hatzedakah. Their case was presented as a family with both parents out of work, managing on the minimum government aid and occasional donations from various other sources. I know that they are needy, but the father — and that I know for a fact — does work. My concern is that if I report this, the administrator, in his anger, will report back to the family. What am I permitted to say? Also, in a similar vein: a family in our building, whose style of living is average or higher, and sometimes bordering on extravagant, lives off tzedakah money. Am I obligated to pass the information on, when not asked?

A: In case A, one should preface any information with the fact that the family is indeed needy and barely managing. Having said that, one can add that the husband works, but that it is not known whether he receives a decent salary. Such an answer is minimal, yet not a deviation of the truth. As for case B, one must realize that as long as one is not privy to the details and reasons for their support, it is forbidden to judge. Therefore, it seems that it is preferable to speak to the administrator in general terms. One may remind him of the importance of an occasional check of the recipient families, without mention of names.

The following questions and answers were taken from the Mishmeres Hasholom pamphlet in Israel. For details and inquiries please e-mail us at office@hasholom.org or call 972-2 5379160.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the individual author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Hamodia.