Parshas
Hashavua ראה
עשר תעשר
The
concept of Tzedaka boxes (Pushkas) goes back
to the times of the Bais Hamikdash*.
They were
called Shofros. It was shaped like a
Shofar one side
narrow, where the coins were fed. The
other end
was wide for the coins to accumulate.
The Kollelim (קופת ר' מאיר בעל הנס)
were the first to
introduce
Pushkas to be placed in every home.
Until then Tzadaka was raised by Gaboim
approaching individuals for Tzedaka.
The Gaboim
usually approached only the well to do Ba’alei Batim.
The not so well to do Ba'alei
Batim were not approached.
Having a
Pushka in the house made it possible to
raise funds even from the poor and
the not so rich.
Dropping single pennies in the Pushka
even the poor
were able to do. Over the year it accumulated to
a
substantial amount.
It also made it possible to raise
funds from women. Gaboim
would never
approach women for Tzedaka. Having a Pushka
in the home, it was mostly the women who inserted the
money in the Pushka.
This was done
regularly before Hadlakas Neiros and many
other occasions.
Another
concept they introduced was to attach the name
ר' מאיר בעל הנס to the Pushka. The segulos they claimed
for
having a ר' מאיר בעל הנס Pushka in the house was
accepted by
all. No Jewish home was without such a Pushka.
It became the
holiest and most important
Tzedaka even up until today.
At the end of the nineteenth
century, Yeshivas Mir
Introduced
Pushkas to raise funds for the Yeshiva.
The Kollelim were upset and claimed
that since they
invented the Pushka concept for
homes, therefore, they
have the exclusive rights to it. No
other
Mossad shall be allowed to distribute
Pushkas.
R. Shmuel Salant zt”l and
other Gedolei Eretz
Yisroel agreed with the Kollelim. On
the other hand,
The Chutz La’aretz Gedolim sided with
Yeshivas Mir.
It is interesting, The Aderes, while
he was Rov in Mir sided
with the Yeshiva and held the
Kollelim have no exclusive
rights to Pushkas.
When the Aderes joined R. Shmuel
Salant’s Bais Din
In Yerushalayim, he changed his mind
and supported the
Kollelim’s exclusive rights to Pushkas.
*Ms. Shekolim Perek 6 (י"ג שופרות )
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