Jewish Scene
Ynet special: The synagogue industry
Akiva Novick
Published: 06.09.10, 15:53
Comment Comment
Print comment Print comment
Back to article
20 Talkbacks for this article
1. how discusting alathough hardly surprising
Avi ,   Israel   (09.06.10)
Wake up people its all about the money, religion sells = $ + Shas = Benizri = Jail.
2. SO THE POOR HAS NO PLACE TO SIT...
BENJAMIN ,   SINGAPORE   (09.06.10)
THIS HAPPENS AT THE SYNAGOGUE IN SINGAPORE TOO ! THE VERY REASON MANY OBSERVE AT HOME WITH MINYAH ! THIS IS TRUE ! THIS HAPPENS ! THE POOR HAVE NO PLACE TO GO ! THE SYNAGOGUES ARE PLACE FOR THE RICH !
3. ABOMINATIONS LIKE THIS NO WHERE IN THE TORAH !
BENJAMIN ,   SINGAPORE   (09.06.10)
LISTEN, THE LRD G-D OF YISRAEL STAND WITH THE POOR NOT WITH THESE RABBIS ! THESE ARE ALL ABOMINABLE PRACTICES, NO WHERE IS SANCTIONED IN THE TORAH ! DISGUSTING !
4. The Priest Class Never Changes
World Citizen ,   the world   (09.06.10)
It has been this way for thousands of years. Organised religion whether Pagan, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism et. al....... it doesn't matter. If you want to get to heaven you have to pay the priests. It is a sad situation. Maybe one day mankind can outgrow this nonsense. If a loving and just G_d exists s/he/it doesn't need our money. He needs each persons commitment to do the right thing for the rest of his entire creation.
5. The article says it : these sums cover
Charles ,   Petach Tikva   (09.06.10)
the expenses of the synagogue for a year . Someone who cand spend such hughe sums , does'nt live at my expenses , he may do with his money what he wants . I'll give him my bank account number , who knows ...... I think that in all those synagogues , poor members can have a seat for free , it was so in my birth town abroad .
6. State should pay or People should pay?
Akiva ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (09.06.10)
Synagogues do not operate for FREE. Air conditioners cost money. Prayer books cost money. A sefer Torah costs money. A rabbi must have a salary to be able to live. And a good prayer leader also needs to make a living. Oh, and the synagogue building needs to be paid for. Would you rather the STATE pay or the people pay? Unfortunately this world costs money. This is a reasonable way for synagogues to cover their OPERATING COSTS. HOWEVER, if you'd prefer for the State of Israel to pay from YOUR taxes...well that's ok by me also. I run a synagogue, this past year the State of Israel gave us NIS 300. The other NIS 119,700 has to be paid by us, the users. And that's ok by us, it's important to us so we pay for it. What's wrong with that? Isn't that EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT THE HAREDIM DOING? YNet is nuts, no matter what we do we're always wrong.
7. Non jews are better than some jews.
Emanue ,   New York, USA   (09.06.10)
What you dont understand is that synagogues are NOT BUSINESSES. They don;t have a product to sell like, for example, in a super market. They are kept running through donations and charity all year round. (Hence, non- profit organization). As a result, the high holidays is mainly what keeps shuls running all year round. What I dont understand is why I find non-jews who understand this concept more than some jews.
8. no-one mentioned hypocrisy
sweeter than honey ,   far away   (09.06.10)
so i will
9. "Voluntary Donations" to pray to God
Bert Goldman ,   San Antonio, Texas U   (09.06.10)
This disgusting custom, selling seat space, and now even close parking space for High Holyday Services is disgusting, crass commercialism. I suppose, so they reason, God can be bought with money. I refuse to attend religious services on a Pay-as-you Pray plan. Surely, God is not a commercial commodity. Shalom
10. Why blame only the Haredim?
Kyle ,   Southpark, CO, USA   (09.06.10)
It is well known that Chabad welcomes everyone and no one is required to purchase a ticket. However Reform and Masorti congregations charge $500 and over for High Holiday tickets, yet YNet doesn't mention this.
11. sheesh, i could never afford this religion
mike ,   israel (formerly usa   (09.06.10)
however being a rabbi sounds like a good racket.
12. Good rip all people off who celebrate no Torah holidays
Josh   (09.06.10)
Read Devarim and call me the fool.
13. High Holidays
Simcha ,   So.Cal.USA   (09.06.10)
Take a religion ,any religion and put it in the hands of man and before you know it it will be selling blessings and the poor can pray in the dirt.
14. to #1 lol y do you care? you don't go to synagogue
ghostq   (09.07.10)
that is very ironic, luckily my humble church is not about money we volunteer with the pot lot.
15. Mike , 11 . This religion is for Jews
Charles ,   Petach Tikva   (09.07.10)
In some countries churches are paid by the state , but if i'm not wrong , they also come there to "schnorren" some money at every office . Nice belief where you pay at every service [ and everyone sees how much you give !!!]
16. To those antis
Charles ,   Petach Tikva   (09.07.10)
Tell me how the synagogue should pay the electricity bill , the repairs , the building , the Rabbi , the Chazan , those who clean ? The State should pay ? then you would say that your money goes to religion . So from where should the money come ?
17. 15 - ok
mike ,   israel (formerly usa   (09.07.10)
not sure what you're talking about but i won't dispute what you've seen.
18. god does not need to be purchased
Steve ,   USA   (09.07.10)
High holidays have become social events ( like gaining VIP access to a popular night club) and services have become fashion shows for the conveniently faithful. My god has provided me with the common sense to prevent me from confusing reverence with religion or from bestowing magical powers upon an ultimately very unenlightened human to "bless" me or my family. God has been turned into an industry by those who ironically have the least understanding of god's design. Happy New year!
19. No synagogue ever turns anyone away
Realitycheck ,   Jerusalem Israel   (09.07.10)
No one is ever turned away from any synagogue any where in the Jewish world as travelers can attest .The National Religious have opened hundreds of their synagogues and temporary synagogues with no charge whatever. Elderly and the poor are always given a seat many times by those who paid for theirs .Many synagogues have folding chairs as well they add.These sums are used in lieu of offerings other times of the year as they are forbidden to carry money on Sabbaths and holidays by Judaism as an aknowlegement of G-d being the ultimate provider .Other religions allow this. This is the one way to "annual fund raise" as there are no memberships to synagogues here as a rule. All synagogues Orthodox Conservative Reform all charge for a seat as well.Churches solicit for funds on a weekly basis during their services even providing envelopes in the pews! But that is not enough churches that rely on voluntary giving are floundering unless they are state supported or really make a pitch to their people and they know how to do it very well.However the Hassidic auctioning is turns off a lot of young people who rarely go to synagogue and they do much damage it should be reconsidered.The article was misleading and proof is the hysterical and uniformed reactions to those who know or dont wish to know the reality.
20. G_d's Creation Is His Temple
World Citizen ,   the world   (09.07.10)
G_d doesn't need temples, synagogues, mosques, churches or altars. Only the priest class, who claim intersession with G_d, need these hollow edifices. Organised religion is the world's second oldest racket and unlike the world's oldest profession, man gets nothing for all the money he lavishes on it.
Back to article