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Op-Ed: Success Cannot Be Achieved Through Debt

by Anonymous

A number of years ago, I received a frantic phone call from a Shliach who had been an old friend from our days together in Yeshiva. He stated that he was about to be evicted from his home, and that if he didn’t come up with thousands of dollars, his family would be on the street.

My first question to the Shliach was whether the money would be a loan or a donation. He stated without hesitation that whatever he received would be a loan, and would be repaid within a year.

I called several family members and told them of my friend’s predicament. Between me and others, within an hour we had raised several thousand dollars to prevent the eviction.

When a year had past, I called the Shliach and asked when the money was to be repaid. He responded that he would take care of it within the week. I never received a penny. The next year was a blur of phone calls, promises and letters, but no compensation received.

Unfortunately for one of my family members (who had contributed a substantial sum), the wheel of fortune turned for the worse – and at the worst of times. His daughter was to be married, and there was not enough money for her wedding.

After calling the Shliach again (he had now had been ignoring my calls for close to three months), I was advised by my mashpia to contact the Shliach’s family members and also his head Shliach to ask them for a solution. Not one of them ever responded to me.

While confiding in another friend about the situation, I was informed that this Shliach owes thousands of dollars to a number of other people. It did not make me feel better to find out that the Shliach’s modus operandi was the same with the other lenders. My friend then explained how this Shliach works. He believes that his actions are justified since he is doing the Rebbe’s work. He can continue to borrow and spend, and the Rebbe will help him. His children have fancy clothes; he drives a nice car and has a large home. As for his debts, those are on the Rebbe to settle for him. He continues borrowing for this peula or that peula, while maintaining a high standard of living, justified by “I’m a prominent Shliach and can’t be viewed as a shluch”.

Of course, the simplest and quickest solution would be to bring action in civil court, but halachicly this is impermissible, and going to Beis Din is unlikely to effectively recover any real money.

My only recourse then is to write this open letter to the Shliach, in the hopes that he will change his ways, and, even if I will never see the money again, at least not bring upon others what he has brought upon me and my family:

Dear Shliach who is drowning in debt,

Every business is competitive, and most successful businessmen strive to achieve greater success than the next. The Rebbe’s Shlichus is not a business. A Shliach’s measure of success is not the size of his building, whether he shakes a Prime Minister’s hand or how big of a crowd came to his event.

The choice to become a Shliach is the choice to put the Rebbe’s will above your own: to go out to the most remote of places, and to be the spark that ignites the flame of Yidishkeit in the most dark of localities. That is the measure of your success.

If you do not have enough money to build a 40,000 square foot building, don’t build it. If your community cannot afford to buy commercial air time on local TV news, don’t buy it. Your picture on a Lubavitch website (and the reader comments of “that’s my uncle!!!”) is not worth the pain of debt – especially when you drag others into it with you.

It is not the duty of a Shliach to live in poverty. But to live in luxury, while your peulos continue to build an overwhelming debt is irresponsible. The line between luxury and necessity has been blurred by our modern culture. “Lechatchila Aribur” has been the call of many waving the flag of shlichus while charging headlong into the jaws of debt. We only hear the few stories of the 11th hour reprieve and never the stories of lives unraveled. Live within your means, do not conduct peulos that are larger than your community, and if your choice is luxury over the spread of Yidishkeit, you’re in the wrong line of work.

25 years ago, a young Shliach (who is now one of the most successful Shluchim in the world) walked into a very hostile meeting with a reform temple’s board. The aggressive nature of the meeting turned around when the Shliach sat down and crossed one leg over the other. Suddenly the entire atmosphere in the room changed. The board listened to the Shliach’s request and responded favorably. To this day, the Shliach doesn’t know why a group of angry reform Jews were shocked into silence when he sat down.

I know why. The president of that board told me recently that when they saw the holes in the Shliach’s shoes, they realized it wasn’t about him; it was about his community and his mission.

I do not release you of your obligation to repay me or my family members. A bride did not have the wedding she dreamed of, and for this you will have to answer to a higher power. Is your Shlichus done with the intent to make this world into a Dira Bitachtonim, or rather just for your own self-aggrandizement and glorification? If the former, you must come clean and relieve yourself of your debts; if the latter, you do not and never have represented the Rebbe, you only represent yourself. How can you drag our Rebbe’s name into your selfishness?

This Op-Ed reflects the views of its author. It does not necessarily reflect the views of CrownHeights.info or its Editors.

Any reader that wishes to make his or her voice heard, on any topic of their desire, is welcome to submit his or her Op-Ed to News@CrownHeights.info.

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74 Comments

  • Awful

    Wow! Speechless.
    Someone should out the guy.He borrows because of appearances,let the court of public opinion compel him to repay his debts.

  • 123455

    I met a shliach during the kinus. He is considered very successful, he recently built a massive 25000 square foot building. He mentioned in passing that even at the time of its construction he knew that it would be too small.

    I asked him why he just didn’t plan on a bigger building. He answered “because our community could not yet afford it.” (not just building, many also forget the cost of mainataining a large building)

    I was floored and he gained much respect in my eyes. Someone who was willing to forgo in bigger grandeur because of financial sensibilities. (he also told me that shul was built in a way that would make expansion easy, so great foresight)

  • Make him pay!!!

    To the author:

    If I were you, I would take this guy to Beis Din immediately.

    Even if, as you say, the Beis din will not be able to coerce him to pay, they will give you reshus to take him to a civil court.

    You are right, this guy cannot call himself a Shliach of the Rebbe. As far as you are concerned, this guy is nothing more than a friend who borrowed money, and MUST pay it back.

    I would not have any Rachmanus on this guy (only on his wife and kids, whom he dragged into this) I would leave no stone unturned until he pays up.

  • Yosef

    Wow. Must be painful, that shliach’s name should be publicized and other people who do the same should learn the lesson

  • Crown Heightser

    Sad but so true!
    This is so much more common than you can even imagine!!
    What about shluchim who casually don’t pay their workers but go on vacations?
    Hashem sees everything…..

  • a galach is frum, Chasidim mst b ehrlich

    I know a shliach who litterly wired money out of someone’s account into his moised without reshus. Geneiva pure and simple.

    I have a relative/shliach who I looked upto for many years as a mashpia who pure and simple acted as a swindler in a business deal. The ramifications on me were huge.

    At the same time, this seems to be mudslinging at shluchim. Plenty of anash are dishonost so this should be addressed to all menuvolim shliach and non-shliach alike.

  • afd

    awesomely written…unfortunately it is too many shluchim, they love the glory, the title!! not there for true reason…

  • max

    To #3 you met him at the kinus!!?, how do you know it was him.
    To the Author: This article is so wrong it should have never been published. I am not a Shaliach, And I will never be one.
    There is a unwritten clause in a every personal loan, that there is a chance that it won’t be repaid back. The good news for the Author is that the money is not lost, and he will recover it soon, or whatever soon in Hashem’s terms means. I would not run after the Shaliach or try to expose him or embarass him.Simply have complete emunah in Hashem. In this world every penny has its destination, and whatever we are supposed to get, we do, with or without efforts.
    The Shaliach has his own heshboinos.
    Do not worry you will get the money back.

  • Hashem Yerachem

    to # 7,

    and what about the hundreds or more shluchim who don’t have food to feed their families, clothes for their kids or money to pay their rent/mortgage. This scenereo is unfortunatly a lot more prevelent than anyone would ever want to believe.

    How do I know? Becuase I have had the zechus to be by many of them and see first hand…

    How I wish that something would be done to help all those shluchim in small town america who suffer poverty everday of the year and no one knows, b/c they can’t tell their communities, and there are no other Lubavitchers around to see and do something.

  • a shlucha

    i think the author has some very valid points but this should not turn into a shluchim bashing session. The author obviously felt he had enough info to judge this shliach. Commenter #7- do you have info to judge the shliach who goes on vacation? Maybe he got a donation of miles not money? Maybe his parents, a relative or a baalebos insisted on paying for a vacation because they care about the shliach and his family? If a shliach hasnt paid his workers, why do you assume this is done “casually”? How can you know this? He may be turning heaven and earth over to pay but happens to have had another means ( that couldnt help salaries) to provide for his family. It is SO EASY to judge. Be careful

  • A little respect for the rebbe

    Once again the farmers are coming out of The woodwork and only have negative things to say about the rebbes shluchim.

    my humble opinion Is that a person who’s living on crown street etc’, has no right In the world to talk negatively about shluchim. noones claiming that all shluchim are tsadikim, or that they are untouchable, rather my point is that if your so into tzedek and yosher and you even know how to rant about what it really means to be a chased of the rebbe, why is it that you are not on shlichus yourself?

    In short, KNOW YOUR PLACE.

  • Ex Debtor

    Someone that takes a loan that can’t repay is considered a rasha gamur and is a serious violation of jewish law.
    The problem is not lack of jewish education in one schliach , is pure arrogance, who dares to dictate to Hashem their “lifestyle” and foce Divine Providence to interve with a “miracolous rescue” to the expense of misfortune in others, Debts and Shalom Bayis are our challenges in this generation, more than rockets fired from arabs.
    I used to have the same disease and is the American way, however, I paid big consecuences and my financial turmoil is getting rectified with teshuva and prayer.
    I feel pain for you, I never defraud a jew, but I lied to credit card companies and borrow money in excess even to give tzedaka, as you know the ietzer haro is pious sometimes..
    The amount that I owed was money that some people need 3 lives to repaid, however Hashem is merciful and in this one with his loving grace I will do it.
    The Alter Rebbe said on his shuljan aruch to read parshas of the Mana and describes who really we are, the ones that trust with emuna and bitachon or the rasha that takes more that we need and needs to go outside to the camp to get his portion, Hashem wants you to do outreach, to guide your own children and chersihed your wife and study Torah, he doesn’t demand something unreasonable, you can work less and get your sustenace in the appropiate time.
    Some of us we have long beard adn short emunah.
    Let’s do teshuva today!!!

  • michoel

    where does it say if you lend someone money you should be prepared never to see it again and only to do this, if this in your ability……that is why lending money is not so simple and a big mitzva ..try a bad business deal life is not easy

  • Eli

    I have the same sort of experiances with a lot of shluchim in my line of work when ever they want to buy from me it’s always cod cash or credit card I have so many checks that are no good and so many promises I can’t keep up chasing them down

  • Emes Tikon Load

    BH

    BH today there is A Machaon Lshlichus which helps out many to start of with the right foot. A rachmonus on the Shliach., but I think we have to be very worry to play with words on the Rebbes Shluchim, there is always two sides to every story.

  • Dave Ramsey is right

    Debt is dumb. The shaliach here expand our Chabad House just before rough times hit the economy. We are worried, but don’t really know what’s going on.

    After all this, don’t think I’d ever give a shaliach a loan. Either it’s a gift, or it’s not happening.

    Wishing everyone continued success.

  • MaidofCH

    I have often wondered about these shulichim who plead poverty yet apparently have nice cars, clothes, vacations, weddings, etc. Meanwhile I work 2 jobs, wear an old winter coat, own secondhand furniture, & “eat out” once in a blue moon at the local pizza shop. (Forget travel.) Yet I am besieged by everyone & his mother for money for some worthy cause. I try to give them $10 or $18. Later I see (in websites like this) photos of them posing at some fundraiser with fabulous people who probably gave them the equivalent of my yearly salary.

    Once upon a time I felt good after giving ma’aser. (Usually I give far more — close to %20.) Yes, I know the reason for tzedakah/ma’aser is Torah-mandated, rather than emotional, but still, I always felt satisfied, that I was somehow contributing to klal Yisroel. Lately, however, I’ve been feeling like a chump. I spoke to some friends, who are also besieged, and who are feeling used.

  • Shliach with an old car

    Wow, I guess shliach bashing is a great pre- Asara B’teves sport!
    Let me give some advice that my father gave me: never lend money to someone that you can’t afford to lose.

  • I-m still waiting, too

    I am not sure who this Shliach is, but I am a speaker on the “Chabad Circuit”. That is, I go to many, many Mosdos and speak and inspire people. I have always gotten paid, except for once when the check bounced and the offers to pay back monthly never really came through. I gave up.

    Not only was I in the hole for expenses, but I gave up other opportunities for that date. I would have appreciated honesty from the Shliach in telling me that he didn’t have the money and would really pay me what he owed me…at least for my expenses.

  • nuu

    this is an exception
    i lent money to many shluchim and all paid me back
    to make it easy,i just gave to some part of the balance for tzedaka in 2 opportunities

  • ANON

    At the end of the day, we all know who this is…..it’s pathetic and you’re right, he should be called out.

  • shlucha

    … like you said “Hashem sees everything” how do you know that he was going on vacation maybe he took his wife for medical treatment and didnt want to publicize it?

  • Burned once

    Well written article. I will disagree on only one point: It is not the duty of the irresponsible shliach’s relatives to pay off his debts. I was in this position once, where we paid off a debt for a relative (which we were really in no position to do) and as a result we did not have money to make a simchah for our own child. When someone borrows recklessly and irresponsibly (and ignores the advice of friends and relatives to spend within their means and live modestly) it should not become their duty to bail him out. I am very sorry for anyone who falls victim to a fraudster (which is what I consider anyone who borrows money they have no intention of repaying) but the family members should not be shamed or guilted into paying on his behalf.

  • Yossi Serebryanski -Denver

    Dear Ploini,
    You have written without using your name, about a friend of yours who’s name you don’t use, and you call it “an open letter”.

    If you are not willing to use your name or name your friend, then I am also painted with your loshon horah brush. Would you kindly remove this article till you have the honer to put your name to it.
    The world is bigger then just you and your shliach friend.

    My email is Rabbi@du.edu

  • The local shluchim should also answer

    What about the “heads” of many of the moisdos in Crown Heights who pay themselves and family members on time, and spend it on luxuries and the newest styles and fanciest simchas, while their teachers can’t pay for their rent?

  • ELW

    I provide services to many Shluchim- Mosods/schools/camps and by and large most DO pay their bills ( eventually).

    Unfortunately, there are those few who simply ignore the invoices and phone calls and stiff you.

  • C.w

    Please take this off! How much does he owe u and ur family? Maybe we make a magbis and u can stop this hatred. The poor guy is having a rough time, I guarantee you the kallah has a huge zechus that her flowers were helping a poor shliach. The fact that yup blamed “shlichus” on this shows ur luv for shluchim… There is no reason restart the shluchim vs farmers fight….

  • Proud Farmer

    #13 you are a bigot and have no respect for the rebbe or his chasidim
    #21 your father’s advice is wonderful, but doesn’t address the issue of duty to repay. let’s not deflect a valid argument by clouding the discussion with “let’s ignore dishonesty, it’s almost a fast day”
    #27 how is an article without a name loshon hara? it seems quite the opposite

  • Not anti-shluchim

    This is not an article against shluchim, it’s an article against fraud and living beyond your means. I do not understand why there are shluchim out there who have to come out of the woodwork to express their contempt for the hardworking people of Crown Heights. If you are honest and are not borrowing more than you can afford to repay, the article isn’t directed at you. Relax.

  • chaim

    #27, please understand whats going on today with chabad and crown height in particular. Shliachus today isn’t like before gimmel tammuz. A vort from the Rebbe, is a life long commitment. Today to be a shliach, you are dealing with the head shliach, his children and how much money can you bring his mosdod, and by the way its all for the name of the Rebbe. I was on shlichus, working 18 hours a day for the name of the “Rebbe” while he was still in his pajamas at 11.30 a.m. I had to work, since he was the head shliach H-shem, Rebbe will pay his bills. Mean while i couldn’t put food on my table, he had a lavishing meals in the name of Shlichus. This is not Lubavitch of the past and not that of the future, that’s why i quit. Not because i don’t like shlichus, its Shluchim taking advantage of one another.

  • Broke Bochur

    I agreed to help a shliach I didn’t know with something for which I had to rent a car. Since I didn’t know him I told him I wanted him to give me money for the car at the beginning of the week and not wait until the job was over. When I got to his house, the shliach’s wife screamed at me that I was horrible for not trusting her husband. So I felt bad and backed down and worked all week. I’m still waiting for my money.

    I helped another Shlichus family for almost a month and the one who hired me said he would give me $225, which he never paid me. And then I saw some other family members fressing in a restaurant.

    I’m not naming names, but in my eyes, they do give shluchim a bad name. You can call me farmer all you want. And maybe i’m a sucker and whatever else you want to call me, but i did good, and they didn’t.

  • Broke Bochur

    I also worked for one shliach who was awesome to me and helped me 10X more than I ever helped him.

  • Shliach anywhere, usa

    While we are on this topic,
    Can someone on this forum lend me $5000 for a couple Of months….you know I’m good for it.
    If yes please call 555-loan

  • Mendy

    I dont understand why you feel the solution is a letter on a website…

    Go to the Ohel, tell his boss that you lent one of his workers money, and that you need to be paid back. The Rebbe will find a way to get you your money back…. either through him or another way but you will be paid back.

  • Mistake

    Come on
    We don’t have too many malachim in ch
    The problem here is that ppl don’t know hilchos maaser and kadima
    If you learn,you would have more money and less mistakes
    For example : if you receive a tuition break,your tzedaka money has to go to this institution,family members come before anything,
    Btw if you lend money to someone who is facing eviction,how do you expect to pay you back? I mean in 1 year? He does not have gelt!He is going to pay you back in few years and in stallments
    The mistake was yours,you decided to ask money to lend to someone penniless.This is a irresponsibility,you should have giveN him your own money and nothing else!
    You should pay the money to your relative and wait for your friend shliach!
    who needs friends like you,! Talking like this about your friend when he is experiencing this situation!
    He is not paying because he does not have with what!MAybe now he needs more money!
    You should do teshuva and help him again!

  • Shay

    If anyone would listen, i have something to say.

    I learnt in class yesterday of the story of Bourch Goldstein, who killed 100’s of arabs in the Mearas Hamachpeilah. The charedim wanted to organize a demonstration against him, so they approached R’ Shach and asked him to speak. R’ Shach refused to speak, and told them to cancel the demonstration. R’ Shach told them that what Boruch Goldstein did- that was a sidespoint, he should not have done it. But to hold a demonstration, and have the entire frum population against his wife and children?!!! Imagine the shame and embarrassment!! Needless to say, the demonstration was canceled to prevent the enormous pain it would have caused to the family.

    To all those who are saying PUBLISH THE NAME of the sliach, i hope for the sake of Shliach’s dear WIFE AND CHILDREN, the name remains anonymous, although proper measures must be taken and the money should be returned to the rightful loaners.

  • Corrupt shluchim

    No one likes to hear the truth.

    1) Theft in the name of the rebbe is unacceptable period. Be honest.
    2) the concept of not paying bochurim is old news and started way before gimmes Tammuz. First time I remember was the 100 tank parade where we were asked to lay out the money it was over 100,000 dollars we bochurim pooled our credit cards. Tzach promised to pay for the parade and tanks they gave us a mere 20 k and said you are bochurim you will survive. – unacceptable.
    3)shluchim – you have no right to use and abuse people and don’t you dare use bochurim with the intent to screw them. Be honest we aren’t stupid We want to help but you can’t steal.
    4) hakoras hatov. Remember the good we do for you and cherish it. It’s not owed to you.
    5) when you are helped by another individual shliach or not you don’t screw them or steal from them. Current two cases Levi shemtovs in dc with his new shliach and in fl fauvism dalfin. Theft is unacceptable.
    6) do not dare threaten in the name of the rebbe. It will backfire the rebbe does not remain a Baal chov.
    7) don’t make reticulum lawsuits in the name of the rebbe. Think before you do something. Remember you carry the flag of lubavitch and would the rebbe except your behavior. Be honest don’t twist it so that you believe you are doing the rebbes work.
    8). If you do the above things and don’t care just remmember you are creating future enemies of lubavitch and will be hurting other shluchim. People get turned off from shluchim and they don’t help others because of your bad behavior.
    9) lastly think twice remember the toes you step on today ,ay be connected to the … your gonna kiss tomorrow.

  • To the writer

    By not putting a name to the article you are being an accomplice to further thefts by this shliach. Maybe you should design a website where people can post their issues with specific shluchim this way shluchim and Mosdos will learn that in this day of the Internet and technology they are no longer gonna be allowed to get away with such behavior.

    I feel your pain I had a story with a shliach and the head shliach refused to say anything and played dumb he said I need to see both sides of the story and refused to even let me show him the proof of my side. Point is he only cared about protecting the shliach. Head shluchim have to learn that they have to act as a head shliach and tell shluchim to behavep properly. There is no longer any din v’cheshbon to the rebbe therefore they feel they can get away with murder

  • Mechoel

    hey guys I have read all the comments many pro and many con.

    a comment like #31 and to dr.ed aka serebranski.(yes my email is here two i would challange you on your comments halachik’ly ethically and in chasidish behavior,,,, that claims he has no respect for the Rebbe and or his shluchim etc.

    well let me tell you a thing or two.

    how many times has the rebbe mentioned to shluchim “ich fur mit dir tzuzamin” ish bin mit dir tzuzamin“ etc. ”sliach shel odom kimosoi“ (i go with you, i am with you and a shliach represents the mishaliech)

    if the Rebbe is truly there with him and he in all goodness feels that the rebbe is on his right side he would never do something like this, yes i love the shluchim they are the rebbe’s children, but there are those black sheep, in ever family.

    the rebbe was a shulchon oruch yid, no games no bs,
    I remember being in yeshivah in LA met Rabbi SH.B. Cunin
    yeah he dressed amazing clothing was par excellence, however when he opened his kapote it was ripped inside in shreds,
    perhaps by not mentioning the shliachs name the author ”is“ respecting the rebbe and this shliach

    we all go through the same thing

    haha the famous quote is. be careful of your friends not your enemies.

    ”DONT LET ANYONE THINK JUST BECAUSE YOUR A SHLIACH YOU CAN DO AND ACT AS YOU WISH, IF YOU BELEIVE IN THE REBBE AND ARE CONNECTED TO HIM YOU WOULD BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU DO AND WHAT YOU SAY, SHLICHUS IS NOT A LIFE TIME PASS TO DO AS YOU PLEASE.. SHLICHUS IS A RESPONSIBILITY TO ACT ABOVE AND BEYOND , REMEMBER WHO YOU REPRESENT,
    NO EXCUSE IN THE WORLD CAN SATISFY SUCH ACTS.
    YOU ARE TO ANSWER TO A HIGHER AUTHORITY, AND HELD ON HIGHER STANDERS.

    GUYS BLUFF ZICH NISHT WITH THE LABEL SHLIACH, IT WONT GET YOU ANYWHERE
    YOUR ACTIONS YOU SPEECH IS NOT MUST BE AS WALKING ON EGG SHELLS,

    everything you do and say is as if the rebbe said and did it

    how dare a shliach use his status to override humanity, logic and proper behavior.

    noit in the thousands of hours that i have heard the rebbe live.

    please my dear shlich dont tell a guy from CH a non shliach to respect the rebbe

    i tell you and can point to many pages in sichos. “you dear shlich respect your mishalaich, you my dear shliach always remember whos face is on your forehead.

    may the rebbe be proud of all of us all of his children

    yes rabbi yossi i would challenge you with or with out a lechaim
    on this i cant say your wrong but i am not either

    hatzlacha rabe moshiach now

    my email is mechel5917093@gmail.com

    Mechoel.

  • A SUGGESTION

    LETS NOT PAINT ALL SHLUCHIM WITH THE SAME BRUSH.
    AS A MOTHER OF MANY SHLUCHIM, I CAN HONESTLY WRITE THAT MOST SHLUCHIM STRUGGLE A LOT WITH THEIR FINANCES. THEY LIVE OFF THEIR CREDIT CARDS AND THAT IS VERY EXPENSIVE. THEY NOT ONLY SUPPORT A FAMILY, BUT A COMMUNITY.
    PEOPLE REALLY BELIEVE THAT THERE IS TOTAL FUNDING FOR ALL THEIR ACTIVITIES AND PEULOS FROM THE LUBAVITCH HEADQUARTERS.
    THE SHLUCHIM ARE THE EPITOME OF REAL MESIROS NEFESH OF TODAY
    .
    I HUMBLY SUGGEST THAT ANYONE WHO HAS THE MEANS SHOULD CHOOSE A SHLIACH,AS A PARTNER TO SUPPORT.
    THOSE WHOM HASHEM HAS BLESSED WITH FINANCIAL SUCCESS SHOULD SEND SOME OF THEIR MAASER TO A CLASSMATE WHO IS A SHLIACH.
    FAMILY MEMBERS MUST INCLUDE THEIR RELATIVES WHO ARE SLUCHIM IN THEIR TZEDOKOS.
    EVEN A SMALL AMOUNT AS $18 OR $25 ON A STEADY BASES ADDS UP.

  • Brh

    Thw only problem with bais din and court is that u havr to have proof aidim or a shtar and in this case i dont think there is one the only way to set this shloach strait it to have people stop giving him money its like a drug addiction the only way to stop it is to not feed it

  • Shame On YOu

    What makes me sick is to see People go out out with their Shuchim/Shlucha friends and Naturally expect for them to Pay for them.
    Once in a blue moon they reach into their pockets…& when they do,they make sure it’s never forgotten.
    Shame on these people.

  • Neither a borrower nor a lender be

    Unfortunately, about 5, maybe even 10 percent of the shluchim (including Merkos and non-Merkos) are corrupt by nature or have become corrupted due to burnout or easy access to money. They have turned shlichus into a business, and because no one in their area really wants their crummy services (if someone is in it for the money, his insincerity shows), they have to go elsewhere for money.

    Those 5 to 10% unfortunately include a couple of very big names who got where they did by removing or cheating others who should have been in their positions but were more tmimusdige.

    If you’re in CH and are asked to support a shaliach “in distress,” do as much research as you would for your daughter’s shidduch before you wire one penny unless the money means nothing to you and you consider it maaser. And if you loan any shaliach money (not a good idea) get a shtar and a pikadon (and preferably orevim as well). Most shluchim have something they can put on the table, from computer equipment and cars to jewelry to an investment on the side.

    And I am not a “farmer” so I don’t want to hear from the peanut gallery about how all shluchim are kodosh. Most are doing the Rebbe’s work, and they are moser nefesh even if they do have money, but the bad apples are shluchim of the sitra achra, plain and simple. In some, probably most, cases, they fell to temptation after trying to do things right and failing, but in one or two cases that I know of, they went into shlichus in an underhanded manner davka so they could con people.

    In my years of living abroad and traveling I have met the very best – and been badly hurt by the worst of the worst.

    Sadly, many of the very best are in Gan Eden now, and the temptation to go over to the sitra achra is greater than it has ever been because many shluchim all over the world are surrounded by prosperity as the global economy grows. They either believe they deserve a share or can’t hold out living in poverty when they are surrounded with wealth or at least middle-class prosperity.

    The bottom line: be careful out there.

  • Yerachmiel G

    The shluchim I know, and I know many very closely, lose sleep over their debts and responsibilities. It is a constant stress on their lives and they are not sacrificing their shlichus time to invest in making money from business. So they are stuck hoping for someone to give to them, after in most cases, they have exhausted all their resources.

    Not sure the details of your situation, but it sounds like you are basing your impression on this guy being someone who is a scammer and living like luxury, on pure loshon harah. How does the person who told you know this? Perhaps that is the way he feels, or faulty deduction, rather than facts.

    Hashem provides for all of us in strange ways. Did you ever consider that perhaps a fancy car was given to this shaliach, while at the same time he can’t rub to pennies together for groceries? Do you think the irony is lost on him? Don’t you imagine he would rather have the groceries rather than the car, but it is not so simple to say no to a gift of a car when you need one or say “can I have a different gift?”

    Even people in business have quirky things happen: they get dirt cheap tickets to Israel, but can’t pay the mortgage, etc. If someone looked at my “fruits” through a microscope they would probably get the wrong impression about me.

    If you base judgments on people by what they have rather than who they are, then you will go crazy, for real.

    Again, not saying you are wrong here. I just want to state that this is so far out of the realm of the shluchim I know and I would hate for people to think this way of shluchim, or any chassidim for that matter.

    Lastly, how are you an expert of how to run a shlchus, i.e. how they should spend or what pulos they should or should not do? They need to grow, and to grow they need exposure. Maybe benefit of the doubt they are hoping to bring in money from their efforts, rather than be the most popular bearded guy in the midst of a population of secular jews?

    I hope and pray that no chassisidim, including shluchim, need to have holes in their shoes in order to survive.

  • dont lend money if you expect repayment

    wonder if its the same guy who owes me money. had similar situation. except it was a business deal. I am not moichel that man either.
    I make a policy never to lend money, it ruins friendships and relationships. I will only do it, if in my mind I know they won’t be paying it back. this way if they do fine and dandy if not it will be my miser money. otherwise you are in deep ****

  • To #38

    The Rebbe is not his boss. If the story is true, he is a fraudster and the Rebbe spit him out a long time ago.

    Shluchim should be the most upset with this story. There is a ganif out there screwing people and using your title to pull off this scam. Open an investegation and start throwing out all the fraudsters and clean up your image.

  • FROM A PROUD FARMER

    to all

    just a note we should never speak bad about any “group” this oped is great it just should have been about a person “who happens to be a shliach” there are many similar stories of people who are not on shlichus. i guess to the benefit of the writer the fact that he is a shliach gave him a sense of authority.

    but i think that the people that happen to be on shlichus or not that call us living in crown heights “farmers” let it be know that some of us are proud farmers and when someone that is currently on shlichus or going out on shlichus comes to us for a donation they never call me farmer in my face. but a few years later i have heard the same person that took my hard earned money call us farmers. so i say thank you.

    and when i pay full tuition to camp or yeshiva and you (because you are on shlichus) get a shluchim discount (which basically means that they charge me more to cover your discount) i say thank you for calleing me a farmer.

    and when there is a shabaton pegisha kinus and you or your guest stay inmy house i say thank you

    just remember without the farmer there is no food.
    and yes there are many shluchim out there that dont have food on the table and are in great debt. this is the hidden crisis. and the burden is on head shluchim of every state and on the board of merkos. to address this and not allow people to go out to places that are not viable to support a shliach. just because a newly married couple thinks they must go out on shlichus if not they have no reason to live(as most are taught in our institutions) doesnt mean that we should let commit financial suicide and wind up doing what the writer speaks about

    wake up and smell the coffe. we all suffer from these miscalculated teachings..

  • out of towner

    How about this oped.

    In CH we have an issue where there are very few people of means, even fewer people that are comfortable, and even less that are just getting by. For the most part people are not really able to afford, food, cars, tuition, camp tuition, vacations, summer homes, eating out, clothing our children, paying our phone and cell phone bills, etc etc.

    But the reality what is seen to all, is how most of us drive fancy cars, going on vacation, eating out, owning summer homes, sending kids to overseas seminary’s at a cost of at least $20.000 including tickets etc. dressing in expensive clothes, buying fancy and expensive jewelry, fixing and decorating our houses, again etc etc.

    What is not seen but what is known, is the bounced checks all over Kingston ave, either in the luxury stores or the food stores, the bounced checks and declined credit cards at the car and jewelry stores, the late payments of rents and mortgages, or non-payment of tuition which the CH resident already chiseled down to the bare minimum,

    But yet the CH guy is quick to criticize the struggling moisdois, or the shliach who took a loan, and cant repay it.

    Maybe you should make a phone call to all the Gemachs in the community and find out the ratio of people not paying loans back, I happen to know that moisdois and shluchim have the best credit, it is the CH resident who has the sense of entitlement (section 8 syndrome) that does not pay their bills, bounces checks, and chisels on tuition.

    How dare this CH farmer criticize a shilach who is broke, obviously other then being broke, this CH resident had nothing else bad to say, so I take it the shliach is successful in his mission, other than being financially stable, as the writer really worked hard in demeaning the shiliach.

    As for the person who couldn’t get his daughter her “dream” wedding not for one second to I believe that , knowing full well the services available to CH people in helping to make a wedding, from affordable halls, and caterers to sheets and linen, a service in most cases not available to shluchim.

  • To 38

    Why are you bringing the Rebbe into this?

    The Rebbe has nothing to do with this so called “Shliach”. The Rebbe is not, and never was his Meshale’ach.

    The Rebbe didn’t send ganovim and gazlonim on Shlichus.

    The author should take every step necessary, however drastic it may be, to get his money back from this ganev.

  • taken for a fool again

    I provide services to many Shluchim- Mosods/schools/camps and by and large most DO pay their bills ( eventually).

    Unfortunately, there are those few who simply ignore the invoices and phone calls and stiff you.

    I’m in this position. I did work for a well-respected Shliach back in June last year. The high quality work was finished on time and he refuses to pay me since August. He admits he owes me, he just won’t pay. Yet he makes very sure his wife is paid very well and on time for her work.

    He knows I’m struggling and that I’m also making a wedding. Why are my needs less important than his Shlichus? The job I do keeps Shluchim going through my maaser. Don’t my children have a right to be fed, tuition paid, and they should have a decent winter coat?

    If anyone has any ideas how I can get this Shliach to pay his bill (it has been 5 months of ignoring followed by refusals )I’d be grateful. I think he thinks he doesn’t need to pay on time because we’re “friends.” Really. Friends treat each other like that? I’ve called, emailed, begged, humiliated myself and all he says is I’m harassing him and he slams down the phone.

    What can I do? I’m out money and the irony is he made plenty of money from my work, many, many thousands of dollars. I love helping the Rebbe’s Shluchim, but I can’t afford to do it for free.

  • burned to

    This articule is not limited to shluchim it is to any body that borrows and doesnt pay back simply said do not borrow what you can not pay back and then use it to live the life its a sickness

  • Lend Responsibly!

    #39 well said! We must lend responsibly. Think critically…if he doesnt have money now why should he have money then? Installments over a few years makes a lot more sense. And dont ask relatives to help. Help him what you can and let him ask HIS relatives.

    To MAX #10: you are dead wrong on both points. The guy met a different shliach with a totally different story! reading comprehension would help. Also I have never heard of this unwritten clause you speak of. When you lend it SHOULD BE PAID BACK!

  • disgusted

    Why is this targeted to shluchim? what about people in Ch who pay the first 3 months rent on time and then say sorry, I don’t have? How about people who do not pay their bills and owe money to stores? How about people who say don’t even think of going to court because I will find something to masser on you? Please, there are honest people and dishonest people. Many people will just blatantly ignore that they owe you money and go their merry way. Some have but do not want to pay others don’t have so don’t buy the beste and the shenste. Speaking from experience. Ask any store on Kingston who many bounced checks they have. How many people bought not food, but luxuries and did not pay.

  • On Shlichus

    Wow!!!
    I read the title of this op-ed and was intrigued. As I read through the article my interest turn toward anger, first at the shliach then at the author.

    When you write an open letter either share all the information or none. You know his name and how much he borrowed. If you want to conceal that information (as you should) then keep his profession hidden as well.

    All this accomplished was a spree of hatred.

    Saying Crown Heighters are worse doesn’t help and saying there are other shluchim or that all or most shluchim do this is wrong, irresponsible and loshon hara.

    Every group of people in the world has good and bad. Are all lawyers bad, how about accountants, do they all steel? Hedge fund managers don’t all end up stealing 60 billion dollars some are legit. Just because one guy stole from you (which it what it appears he has done) does not mean you should go around saying shluchim don’t repay their debts.

    As a bochur I worked with over 35 shluchim in many cities all over the world. I got screwed once. I can not say all shluchim don’t pay though just because >>>> doesn’t pay his debts. Like some one else wrote before, Do not paint everyone with the same brush.

    The intent of the letter may be to get your money back or maybe just to blow off some steam, but it comes off as an attack on Shluchim, the Rebbe, and our way of life, when it should really be just about one individual.

  • Mottel

    Head shluchim that’s a joke my kids were thrown out of school because of a broiges with another shaliach and the head shaliach did NOTHING! Head shluchim are weak.

  • ONCE A SHLIACH ALWAYS A SHLIACH!

    everyone has valid point

    this person is writing his personal wexperiece.
    If you lend BEWARE

    and a person (yes including a shliach) responsibility to pay a debt is not connect to the fact that he lives a high life or not.
    its just simple you borrow you pay :)

    if you can’t pay don’t borrow. The rebbe wants you to come back to crown heights, get a job and support your family. If you want to stay on shlichus and have mesiras nefesh, it’s your personal business but if you involve others in your mesiras nefesh.. then it’s already corrupted.

    I was a shliach…

  • i totally feel

    he’s not doing it because he wishes and not because he wants it. he is simply doing it because he has NO power over his actions… he is an addict – and needs to do 12 steps and recover…. i know cuz i’m talking from experience. i was in the shoes of the shliach and had no idea what was wrong as much as i wanted to change i was not able to. and had no power to. after working the 12 steps i now am a different person.
    turning to his family most probably did not help you cuz they are also addicts! if there is any way you can suggest rehab, 12 step groups like DA (debtors anonymous) that can save him and most probably also his family

  • calm down all commenters!

    this doesnt need to become a shliach bashing session, when this happened with one shliach…
    ive had many dealings, and gave out many loans to shluchim, and i always got payed back!
    stop generalizing!
    these people are doing what the rebbe wants and we should only give support.

  • Mr. Cohen

    Tehillim, chapter 37, verse 21:
    The wicked borrow and do not repay…

    ספר תהילים פרק לז
    כא) לֹוֶה רָשָׁע וְלֹא יְשַׁלֵּם

  • a shliach who struggle for money too, bu

    well said
    tell the shliach that you want him to respond quickly if not his name will be public

    a shliach who struggle for money too, but i don’t barrow money baruch hashem i dont have to , and my shoes look like the guy you mention on the board meeting

  • bottom line

    this issue exists in every social group, society, religion, ethnicity. most shluchim, businessmen, homeowners, pay back their loans on time. some don’t. unfortunately, the writer got the “I’m doing the Rebbe’s work, u gotta help me” guilt trip and fell for it. this shliach should be outed. the issur of “loi siyeh loi k’noishe” applies only if the person has no food for the next day or 2. If his fridge is stocked, u can publicly announce his name. in the old kehillas in europe, on shabbos the gabboyim would announce the names of people who didn’t pay their loans. the chachomim made this takana so people would feel comfortable giving loans to others, knowing they have a recourse.

    I guarantee u this shliach somehow pays his mortgage, cars, seminary tuitions, etc. He’s stiffing you because in his eyes you’re a peon, who doesn’t count. If the loan was from some gvir, he would bend over backwards to pay it back on time. but you don’t count, so why should he. your only solution is threatening to print his name on the blogs. it’s muttar according to halacha, and you’re doing the right thing for the people that matter most (your family).

  • Amused

    Ah! It’s such a mechaye to see sanctimonious shluchim and townie baale batim go at each other!

  • Dovid

    to #59 why are you surprised? Sadly such occurrences are all too commonplace. Too much power and money

  • Dovid

    to #59 why are you surprised? Sadly such occurrences are all too commonplace. Too much power and money

  • rg

    we are all shluchim and should heed these words and practice honest torah living no matter the profession. It would speed the arrival of peace and Moshiach.