tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7898782635470765614.post1982417521853047815..comments2023-09-11T17:58:13.764-04:00Comments on The Rebbetzin's Husband: I guess membership should have its privilegesThe Rebbetzin's Husbandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14977193945074906534noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7898782635470765614.post-26080477720230868262008-08-06T07:39:00.000-04:002008-08-06T07:39:00.000-04:00Josh-Agreed, although I would note that aniyyim di...Josh-<BR/>Agreed, although I would note that aniyyim did have access to support even without being residents. Kupah and tamchui were open to travelers.<BR/><BR/>Lion-<BR/>Even in the established shuls (as opposed to the shteiblach)?<BR/><BR/>Tzipporah-<BR/>The shekel vs. nediv lev split is a good one, I think.<BR/>On your last point, though, I have to say that there are many people, from my own experience, who make use of services they will not personally support. Everyone has their justifications, too.The Rebbetzin's Husbandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14977193945074906534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7898782635470765614.post-60434313890644269822008-08-05T15:21:00.000-04:002008-08-05T15:21:00.000-04:00The Recon movement has a whole thing about this, u...The Recon movement has a whole thing about this, using their "values-based decision-making" model.<BR/><BR/>Jewishly, we have two complementary precedents. First is the half-shekel, mandatory minimum "dues" to the Temple. This was the same for everyone, from beggars to the wealthy, and represents our communal responsibility to each other to support our religious, social, and educational endeavors. For example, someone with no children or grandchildren in the synagogue STILL has to support the religous school, because educating the young is a communal responsibility.<BR/><BR/>Oon the other hand, you have the "gifts from the heart" of the mishkan construction, where community members give of their best (money, time, energy, skills) on a voluntary basis. Of course, in the Tanakh, when you ask them to give from the heart and don't specify an amount, they always give more than you need... not sure that applies in every synagogue.<BR/><BR/>Basically, dues are not about money. They are about values, moral judgments about what is worthy of our time, money, etc. If someone thinks maintaining a Jewish community center is important, or wants to make sure that there is always someplace for Jew to go daven or say kaddish, or cares that the community's children grow up learning Hebrew and Torah, then they should put their money where their mouth is.<BR/><BR/>It's really that simple.Tzipporahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08807511259582331073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7898782635470765614.post-39736104563145672462008-08-05T12:53:00.000-04:002008-08-05T12:53:00.000-04:00it's much simpler where i live. here in brooklyn a...it's much simpler where i live. here in brooklyn almost no one pay dues. maybe chai for an aliyah. but that's it.Lion of Zionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10342299133387602141noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7898782635470765614.post-357194400985901802008-08-05T12:48:00.000-04:002008-08-05T12:48:00.000-04:00In the past, communal membership was an enforceabl...In the past, communal membership was an enforceable obligation, so that there really wasn't a class of permanent non-members that had to be dealt with - anyone who could physically afford the fees had to pay them. However, people who had not lived in a city for a sufficient period of time that would incur these obligations did have decreased access to some of the privileges of residency - support for aniyyim comes to mind.Josh M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/14414532577328945154noreply@blogger.com