By L.
Many years ago, in the early 90’s, I was volunteering in the Former Soviet Union and visited several camps. We noticed that Schmerling chocolates generously donated by the Schmerling family from Switzerland were disappearing far too quickly and we decided to investigate. It didn’t take long, and we soon discovered that some of the camp drivers and other workers from the camp were taking boxes of chocolates and then selling them in the Riinak (bazaars).
When confronted and questioned why are they stealing, their answers were always the same. “But I work here and I’m allowed to take it. Everyone here takes!”
For them it wasn’t considered stealing, it was just a way of life. A person who worked in a dairy store would barter milk and cheese for meat. A person working in a meat store would barter for fish. Someone else for clothing. And in this manner everyone survived.
It wasn’t right then for Russia and it certainly isn’t right now in America. The concept that “everyone cheats” is simply not true. The idea that we all cheat and just need to be careful not to be caught is false and stupid.
Many people commented on the struggles of making ends meet in today’s reality. Costs of tuition, kosher food, modest clothing, housing, lifestyles, are much more than many of us hard working people earn.
Other comments blamed the schools for not paying enough to their teachers while others lamented and asked how can teachers afford to buy homes and why are they entitled to parsonage, etc.
The intent of this article is not to accuse nor justify anyone. Nor is it a wake up call. The real news already accomplished that.
We live in a time of transparency. The notion of, “An eye sees, the ear hears and all your actions are recorded” never rang truer. Our social media imprints are all over. As more and more government agencies share data and super computers enable complicated algorithms, one has to be extremely foolish and perhaps even suicidal to think it will only happen to the other guy or that the government is only going after the big boys.
I am not an accountant, and I know that not everyone qualifies for different benefits, but the law does provide many legal ways to account for one’s wages, Some may get a 1099 instead of a W-2, some can be paid as consultants, others qualify for parsonage.
There are also many government and community programs that can help with food and other hardships. This is perhaps an area our community councils should do more of, certainly in their outreach efforts as many young couples and foreigners don’t know where to ask or are too embarrassed etc.
And for those who complain that it is simply impossible to live here in New York, then it is preferable they move to a place where it is more affordable than hope they won’t be caught stealing.
I am including a financial chart that was submitted by a community member years ago to help families understand their income and expenses. Many times, perhaps too often, it boils down to a question of priorities. Do we support the 30+ food establishments and fancy eateries, pay our tuition’s or go on nice vacations.
There are several good applications today where one can consolidate and record all their expenses combining their check books, credit cards, petty cash, mortgages, etc.
Certainly, if we believe that our very existence and Parnasa comes from Hashem, we can all live our lives according to the Torah, Shulchan Aruch and by adhering to the laws of the land.
May we all be worthy of Hashem’s blessing for Parnasa in abundance and always be from those who give and do not need to receive.
Have a healthy summer.
Click here to download financial chart PDF
Click here to download financial chart excel file
There might be some great advice on that website.
But having posted the link here, I expected it to be Frum Website and it does not even look Jewish at all.
I am not saying that by itself, makes it bad, but there are a lot of views and ideas posted there that are not in line with Torah values (like the post and the comments about how dogs are ‘better then children’, as well as the cursewords).
It would have been nice if you had given everyone a warning, is all I am saying.
kosheronabudget.com sends out daily emails and while some foods on sale are not what Lubavitchers eat and some of the clothes might not be what we wear, the idea behind the site is that being an observant Jew should not plunge a family into debt. But your frugal website idea is good and there are loads out there, as well as vegan websites for those who want to save money by swapping out some meat meals. The rest of the world has figured out how to live within their means, although the average American has credit card debt, and frugality… Read more »
I agree with you and that is why I said in my comment to #8 (I am comment 13), that the government probably has no intention to prosecute some struggling housewife who cleans a few houses once in awhile for extra cash. She is not getting rich and cannot be held up as an example to others as to how the government prosecutes those who get rich illegally, even if her occasional maid service off the books is illegal. They are not after the truly poor, at least not at this point but if they see signs of obvious wealth,… Read more »
https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/
Ksil is a hebrew word which means fool
That’s not cash-from mowing lawns or babysitting. It’s outright tax evasion.
Yes, the first thing they ask you when you go upstairs is whether you were honest in business. And do you know the loshon used that is translated as “honest”? BE-EMUNAH. What do we learn from this? If you say you have to cheat to make ends meet, you are saying you do not trust the Oisbershter to provide for you. And if you do not trust the Oibershter to provide for you, how can you call yourself a frumer Yid, much less a chossid?
Some years ago when I was out of regular work I did some babysitting and I did report the income. I reported it on a Schedule C as “consulting”.
While I would not encourage anyone to cheat, I am sure that the government is aware that many people who get benefits do some type of off the books work but they look the other way at it until the person gets rich as still does it. When is the last time that you saw the police arrest the poor shlepper who is raising 10 kids in 2 bedrooms and makes a fewoff the books dollars as the gabbai in shul? If a person lives big, he or she raises the government’s awareness of where his money comes from. Most… Read more »
More then one were bashing Republicans for being ‘ksils’ (a term I never heard before today and do not know where it comes from, but from the articles and postings it seems to be a description of those who cheat the government while getting income off the books (or something like that) Right?). For one thing Republican does not mean ‘conservative’. A yid who is conservative would by definitioon follow Torah and thus would not do anything evil of underhanded. Also lets not say Loshon hara by pretending that ‘all’ or even ‘most’ Republicans necessarily do this. Lets also not… Read more »
If you have a source of livelihood that is compatible with relocation. And you find CH too expensive. There is a growing community in Greenfield, a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, PA that you might want to consider. Part of the advantage of Greenfield is that there is no social pressure to have expensive material possessions. So if you do decide to come to Greenfield – please don’t bring that social pressure with you.
When the Rubashkin story was in the news, I was told by a ten year old that Rubashkin did nothing wrong because everyone does it. That’s how far embedded the concept is in the CH community among those who supported Rubashkin. A very high percentage. At that time it was also wide spread to criticize the US legal system. This from people who’s families came from Russia. And who’s Rebbe praised the freedoms in the USA. There is a publication called “IN G-D WE TRUST A Handbook or Values for Americans.” Now would be a good time to teach it… Read more »
I run a small business together with my wife. Many years ago we went to an accountant to finalize our tax obligations. My wife (who is mathematically much smarter than me) was very concerned that if we declare everything we will lose some benefits and have a big tax bill. She thought that maybe we should under-declare our income by a certain percentage, and do a certain percentage of work as “shvartz” then we will be able to continue getting benefits. The accountant gave us the best advice and taught us an important lesson. He asked us “Do you want… Read more »
Two kinds of people write these op-eds those who do not struggle and those who struggle but do not qualify for help and need a cause. If you actually know people in CH who are getting assistance you will know that whether they get anything off the books or whether they do not they are struggling. The few that have the million dollar houses while on assistance are the kulaks. They are a blip on the radar. These, I am so pure op-eds are written by people with no skin in this game. They do nothing but stigmatize the hundreds… Read more »
When many people don’t make enough money a month for rent and food. Then you have to torment them about vacation. If they have to buy a burger once a while is because life is so hectic and tiring one has to buy some food just to keep going.
Cheating is definitely not the way to go. But most people did their share of cheating.and a lot of people who are running their mouth today may not be doing it today but they definitely got a lot further in life by doing their share once upon a time
No where in this article does it say how to cheat or promote the idea of cheating
Quite the contrary
Has many good suggestions.
https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/
When Hashem sees you act in an upright manner, He will give you what you need. Just because YOU dont feel you have as much as YOU need doesnt mean that getting it from an improper source is going to get you any farther or justified. It might seem for the moment that you have a bit more cash in your pocket… but in the long run, Hashem will never give you generously after He sees your lifestyle of not trusting in Him and resorting to dishonest, needy methods to get what you think you need. We are not even… Read more »
What’s the tachlis of all these articles that
Explain exactly how to cheat everyone
Knows that you’re not supposed to cheat
Thank you for your hints and tips. The best solution is to make more money legally and even though you pay more taxes and might lose a few benifits, you benifit much more with the increased income and benfits that brings. For example, as as a renter I paid a lot more taxes. However, as a home owner my taxes went down since i can write off the interest from the mortgage legally. So it,s like having a 20,000 dollar wirte off of LESS income you earn, as a renter you can’t ever do that.