I, too, have been caught up in the consumer/giver position. How often now do I go into a clothing store and at the cash is a display of attractive pink bracelets/rings/necklaces for sale, where a fraction of the proceeds go to breast cancer research? I bought one of those bracelets once and as I walked away, I remember wondering, Did I purchase this for the charity or for the pretty jewels?
But what's the flip side of that? If we are going to be out shopping, why not take a moment of that time to put some of our money and efforts to tzedaka? It's just one way that tzedaka becomes a part of our daily life. My local kosher grocery store has a programme where you can purchase 5, 10 or 20 dollar cards when you are buying your groceries. This money goes to a local food bank. Maybe all I'm doing is taking out my credit card, but when giving becomes a part of our daily routine, many benefit.
As for your last point, I agree. But how do we get away from that label when in the Western world we are all consuming all the time?
I, too, have been caught up in the consumer/giver position. How often now do I go into a clothing store and at the cash is a display of attractive pink bracelets/rings/necklaces for sale, where a fraction of the proceeds go to breast cancer research? I bought one of those bracelets once and as I walked away, I remember wondering, Did I purchase this for the charity or for the pretty jewels?
But what's the flip side of that? If we are going to be out shopping, why not take a moment of that time to put some of our money and efforts to tzedaka? It's just one way that tzedaka becomes a part of our daily life. My local kosher grocery store has a programme where you can purchase 5, 10 or 20 dollar cards when you are buying your groceries. This money goes to a local food bank. Maybe all I'm doing is taking out my credit card, but when giving becomes a part of our daily routine, many benefit.
As for your last point, I agree. But how do we get away from that label when in the Western world we are all consuming all the time?