Brooklyn, NY - Kol Koreh Proclamation Clarification
Brooklyn, NY - An announcement in Der Blatt, the Satmar weekly, was made on behalf of many chassidishe rabbis who signed a kol koreh on behalf of Keren Hashviis, a most worthy organization supporting farmers in Israel who are abiding by the Shemittah (Sabbatical) laws and refraining from farming their land. Upon the specific requests of many signing rabbis, Der Blatt advises that the rabbis intentionally and willingly signed the kol koreh.
However, when they were signing, it did not have any organizational stationary masthead. It appears that different organizations affixed their own stationary mastheads onto the kol koreh in their attempts to enhance their fundraising efforts. The undersigned chassidishe rabbis asked the Der Blatt to convey to the public that, indeed, it is obligatory to support Keren Hashviis and their holy work. However, in no way should their signatures be misconstrued as participation or approval of any organization other than Keren Hashviis itself.
Further, the chassidishe rabbis state that whenever a proclamation is made on behalf of or to all observant Jews, it should never have any individual organizational stationary masthead. The success of the kol koreh against improper concerts was because it had no particular organizational leaning. The chassidishe rabbis, without any complaint to any organization or organizational director, reinforce their call upon everyone to support Keren Hashviis. [jewishpress]
http://www.vosizneias.com/2008/03/brooklyn-ny-kol-koreh-proclamation.html#links