Va’ad HaTzedakah
Responsible Giving, Trusted Guidance
The Va’ad HaTzedakah, under the leadership of Rabbi Zecharia Sionit, carefully evaluates and verifies tzedakah collectors and charitable causes, helping ensure that community donations are directed to legitimate and worthy recipients in accordance with Torah values and halachic guidance.
The Va’ad HaTzedakah is Formed ─ March 2024
To enhance the quality of the tzedakah collection process and smooth the experience for the greater community, we have agreed to form a new committee: The Va’ad HaTzedakah of Dallas. This valuable effort, fully supported by the Dallas Rabbinical Council, aims to accomplish the following:
✓ Verify the cause of each collector, whether personal or organizational
✓ Assure proper behavior and acceptable visiting hours by collectors
✓ Regulate the frequency of individual visits
Rabbi Zecharia Sionit of Sephardic Torah Center has accepted to lead this committee, vet individuals and organizations, and issue the Vaad’s letter of authorization. Each collector receives a letter in Hebrew, English, and Yiddish listing the community’s requirements for behavior and visiting hours. We thank Rabbi Zecharia Sionit for his time and effort.
Please understand that this initiative can only work if it’s followed seriously by community members, both at shul and at home. Although we cannot advise our congregants NOT to give tzedaka, we strongly recommend ONLY giving to collectors carrying an authorization letter from the Dallas Va’ad HaTzedaka. If you are approached or visited by a collector, we urge you to ask for the Dallas Va’ad HaTzedakah letter and inform him/her that, per a community-wide policy, the letter is required for collecting in the Dallas Area.
You can refer collectors to Rabbi Sionit, who can be reached at (917) 678-0385. The person should be told to leave a clear voice message or send a text in case Rabbi Sionit can’t answer. Rabbi Sionit will also endeavor to spread the word among the network of tzedakah collectors about our new system and requirements, so they should arrive prepared.
Of course, if you have a preexisting relationship with a particular collector or institution, we encourage you to continue donating to them even if they have not produced a letter. Additionally, women who are home alone should not allow any collectors in, even if they can produce a Va’ad HaTzedaka letter.
We hope and pray that this initiative will both enhance the quality of our precious tzedakah and the dignity and normalcy of tzedakah collection in the Dallas Area.
