Organizations want your Tzdaka money but they know that if they just ask for it you are probably not going to give or are going to give very little. It is not that people don't give but that the "Tzdaka market" is swamped and highly competitive. I know one fellow - for example - who has probably hundreds of million$$$$ if not more. Every time I ask him to donate to a worthy cause he refuses. His name is all over the place [plaques on walls of buildings, books etc. etc.] b/c he gives a lot of money to Tzdaka but b/c there are so many requests he often has to say no. Not even a dollar. Not even a nickel. I actually know many very wealthy people out of whom it is hard to extract a dollar for Tzdaka. They are not bad people. Just swamped with requests. Lots of needy people, lots of worthy causes. Lots of saying no. [Some people get very angry when hearing or reading mussar about giving Tzdaka. So this isn't for them. Mussar is not intended to get people angry but to elevate and purify].
So the Tzdaka organizations figured out an idea. Print a colorful, fancy brochure [costing thousands of Tzdaka dollars...] with images of lots of prizes and promise donors that potentially [no guarantees] they can win prizes if they give Tzdaka. In other words - they appeal to the selfish part of man. Bidders buy tickets and use them to bid on items. The more you want something, the more tickets you buy and put into the jar to increase your chance to be drawn as the "lucky" winner.
So the Tzdaka organizations figured out an idea. Print a colorful, fancy brochure [costing thousands of Tzdaka dollars...] with images of lots of prizes and promise donors that potentially [no guarantees] they can win prizes if they give Tzdaka. In other words - they appeal to the selfish part of man. Bidders buy tickets and use them to bid on items. The more you want something, the more tickets you buy and put into the jar to increase your chance to be drawn as the "lucky" winner.
“Chinese auctions” became popular during the late 1800s when Chinese immigrants came to the United States facing discrimination, low wages, and lack of legal protections [like the Jews, blacks and other groups...].
In American slang during this time, “Chinese” began to be associated with cheapness [rivaling only the stereotypical Jew....]. Many believe this is the origin of “Chinese auction,” as a name for raffle-style fundraising events with inexpensive tickets and prizes. Especially today, amid increased calls for racial inclusion and "equity" in our institutions, organizations, and public forums (as well as the COVID-19 pandemic’s impacts on Asian-American communities), “Chinese auction” is [according to the website I copied from....] an outdated term that many nonprofits are looking to replace. It is also racist to say that Corona started in China. Everyone knows that Trump started it in order to get re-elected. Trump is also known to be cheap. So some are calling it "Trump Auctions".
In any event, in my house there is a moderate, not harshly imposed, "cherem" against Chinese auctions. If someone is appealing to the selfish part of me and wants to get my money [or the money Hashem gave me to give out] by offering me prizes - sorry. Why should I cultivate a part of me I am trying to eradicate??? I am selfish without their help, thank you. This is not a big loss for any organization, given my over the top wealth. עשי"ר is roshei teivos ע'יניים ש'יניים י'דים ר'גלים. If you have eyes, teeth, hands and feet you are TRULY rich. [I have B"H all four so I am ROLLING in it. I also have a tiny tiny tiny bit of Torah and טוב לי תורת פיך מאלפי זהב וכסף.] But you are not donating them anywhere so that is not what they are after. They want your dough and bribing you with prizes is how they are going to get it. And it WORKS!! That is why theseChinese Trump Auctions are so successful.
So SWEETEST FRIENDS!!! Let us try to develop the G-dly, altruistic side of ourselves. Not the western, consumerist, self serving part.
Of course - מתוך שלא לשמה בא לשמה and if a person gives Tzdaka with an ulterior motive it is still valid Tzdaka ['עי' פסחים ח] - but better shoot for the ideal. The Mishkan was built with נדיבות הלב [as the psukim emphasize]. A generous heart brings the שכינה.
In American slang during this time, “Chinese” began to be associated with cheapness [rivaling only the stereotypical Jew....]. Many believe this is the origin of “Chinese auction,” as a name for raffle-style fundraising events with inexpensive tickets and prizes. Especially today, amid increased calls for racial inclusion and "equity" in our institutions, organizations, and public forums (as well as the COVID-19 pandemic’s impacts on Asian-American communities), “Chinese auction” is [according to the website I copied from....] an outdated term that many nonprofits are looking to replace. It is also racist to say that Corona started in China. Everyone knows that Trump started it in order to get re-elected. Trump is also known to be cheap. So some are calling it "Trump Auctions".
In any event, in my house there is a moderate, not harshly imposed, "cherem" against Chinese auctions. If someone is appealing to the selfish part of me and wants to get my money [or the money Hashem gave me to give out] by offering me prizes - sorry. Why should I cultivate a part of me I am trying to eradicate??? I am selfish without their help, thank you. This is not a big loss for any organization, given my over the top wealth. עשי"ר is roshei teivos ע'יניים ש'יניים י'דים ר'גלים. If you have eyes, teeth, hands and feet you are TRULY rich. [I have B"H all four so I am ROLLING in it. I also have a tiny tiny tiny bit of Torah and טוב לי תורת פיך מאלפי זהב וכסף.] But you are not donating them anywhere so that is not what they are after. They want your dough and bribing you with prizes is how they are going to get it. And it WORKS!! That is why these
So SWEETEST FRIENDS!!! Let us try to develop the G-dly, altruistic side of ourselves. Not the western, consumerist, self serving part.
Of course - מתוך שלא לשמה בא לשמה and if a person gives Tzdaka with an ulterior motive it is still valid Tzdaka ['עי' פסחים ח] - but better shoot for the ideal. The Mishkan was built with נדיבות הלב [as the psukim emphasize]. A generous heart brings the שכינה.
