WHAT ABOUT THE RED STRING BRACELET DUDES?

I REMEBER THERE WERE A FEW PEOPLE THAT WOULD MAKE A DAY OUT OF COLLECTING TZADAKA, BUT THAT WAS ONLY A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE, IN FACT I DON'T EVER REMEMBER BEING APPROACHED, AND I VISITED THE KOTEL DAILY, THIS MUST HAVE BECOME A RECENT PHENOMENON.

I was there one time and I decided to be a good boy and say some Tehillim, something I admitedly never do, but what can I say, the location and mood struck me. While I was saying them and trying to concentrate on them, a beggar came by and wouldnt leave my side till I acknowledged him and told him to go away until I was done. Surprsingly he did and came back later on and gave me a story about how his son was getting bar mitzvahed and he didnt have enough to purchase him tefillin. True? Who knows, but we were at the kotel, so I figured he probably wasnt lying. I gave him at least $20because I know tefillin cost some $$ and, get this.....the guy says to me, "Thats all?? Do you know how much tefillin cost?" Needless I told him to beat ie before I decided to take my donation back, by force if neccessary. Such chutzpah. I am glad they are clearing them away. They remind me of the guys that sidle into the catering halls at weddings looking like guests but asking the guest for donations. There's a time and place.....

Kol hakavod! It's about time! When I was at the kotel about six months ago I had a beggar come up to me and ask for money, I had no change so I couldnt give so she said to me" I hope you become a widow like me!" This was a few weeks after my husband had suffered a stroke so it hit me hard. People like that have no place at the kotel, or anywhere in my opinion.

There are the real beggars, mainly very poor Orthodox men and women, who just sit on a chair with a small plastic or paper cup waiting for someone to give them a little money. Then there are the 'red bracelet' idiots, who harass people. People I know were threathened by them with physical violence. These guys should be arrested and locked up for a long time. A solution would be to only allow beggars who have been approved by Rabbi Rabinovitch. He can judge a person's integrity. Give the good ones permission, and forbid anyone else.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

"blessed are the meek" ? thats nic because theur do have an awful time

What's more annoying? Beggars at the Kotel or "new" testament preaching on Ynet?

the whole point of my post was to show that both H.M AND the beggars deserve our sympathy and are worthy of equal human respect as bestowed upon us by our lord I fail to see how ANYONE can argue with this

I never had a problem with the kotel's beggers. I remember this old ,frail religous lady begger always came up to me ask me "manis ma" (how are you?) she would say a bracha for me and my family sometimes tie a red ribbon around my wrist and I would give her some change. Such a very sweet lady. I'll miss her.

when we stop begging from the lord of the universe for mercy and realise that if noone recieves then noone can give , whats better than giving?

I'm more offended by the harassment of the modesty police than the beggars. There was a time when the Kotel was a welcoming place but now you can't even enter the plaza without being eyed and examined. It's the ultra orthodox who are doing the harassing and not the beggars.

300 beggars at the kotel alone funny.... !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!