צדקה Pushkas

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 )