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Beit Midrash
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The board members sat around the table, fidgeting in their seats, uncomfortably aware that the yeshiva was somehow depending on them to address its financial woes, despite the fact that the board had tried every viable option, and hadn’t come up with any real solutions.
The president sat upright in his chair, and cleared his throat. "Let’s face the facts. We don’t have much of a solid donor base. Despite the publicity and extensive planning, the Chinese auction didn’t draw much of a crowd, the promotional CD almost brought in enough to cover the production costs, and the attempt at a lemonade stand proved that sometimes it’s better not to make anything out of lemons. We have to try a new tactic."
The audible grumbling heard around the table gave the president just enough time to fish in his pocket and withdraw a business card. "You see this" the president pointed to the elegant card in his hand. "It seems this is our only answer. His name is Shlomo. He’s a big name in the fundraising business. He has great leads, and he draws in money wherever he goes. There’s just one catch. He takes a 51% cut."
The board members would have liked to protest, but they knew it was useless. 51% sounded more like extortion than a commission, but it was painfully obvious that it was that or send the students packing. Within minutes, the president had Shlomo on the phone.
The board members went to sleep that night a little more easily, anticipating the sack of money that Shlomo would bring back after he had concluded his travels. Finally, the day came. As the president sat with Shlomo, debriefing him about his successful fundraising outing, a smile began to spread over the president’s face. Until he got to the price tag.
"51% plus travel expenses! Who ever heard of such a thing? How could you possibly charge that?!" the president thundered.
"What do you mean?" Shlomo responded evenly. "I said that I charge 51%. We agreed on that. I don’t derive any personal benefit from the travel expenses. Why should that have to come out of my pocket?"
Who is right? Is Shlomo allowed to charge travel expenses in addition to a 51% commission?
Answer of former Rishon Letzion, Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, zt"l:
It is shocking that people are not embarrassed to charge such a high commission, and demand travel expenses on top of that! It is clear that, had the donors known that such an amount was being reduced from their donations, they wouldn’t have donated at all to this yeshiva.
It is very important to be careful with the money belonging to a yeshiva! A person who exemplified this behavior was my father in law Rabbi Nissim David Azran, zt"l, founder and Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Beit Shmuel. Rabbi Azran was so careful with the yeshiva’s money that he would always travel by bus, so that he would never have take a taxi on the yeshiva’s account. Similarly, he would never make a personal call at the expense of the yeshiva.
In summary:
The yeshiva should not pay Shlomo for his travel expenses.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor Fee Despite the Buyer’s Refusal?
based on ruling 83117 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
