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June 24, 1988 - Image 25

Resource type:
Text
Publication:
The Detroit Jewish News, 1988-06-24

Disclaimer: Computer generated plain text may have errors. Read more about this.

synagogues and churches depend on
bingos to make ends meet.
"The purpose of our bingo is to
supplement the income of the
synagogue," Vainik said, adding the
congregation raises between $600 and
$1,200 a night.
Initially, Vainik said, there was
great opposition to bingo in the con-
gregation. But, he added, the
members realize it is a major source
of income that helps keep member-
ship dues to a minimum. Without
bingo, Vainik said, dues would sure-
ly increase.
Rena Ibbes, acting administrator
of Congregation B'nai Moshe, said the
board of directors voted to discontinue
weekly bingos last year.
"Many people religiously didn't
agree with bingos," she said. "The
Women's League of Conservative
Judaism doesn't approve of bingos or
raffles or anything that smacks of
gambling."
Ibbes declined to discuss the
amount of revenue generated from
the bingo games, but said the
synagogue has noticed a difference
since it stopped.
"We've been hurt," she said. "We
are hoping the members and other
fund-raising activities will make up
for the slack."
Beth Shalom attracts about 150 to
200 bingo players each night it hosts
a game. Like others, the congregation
relies heavily on volunteers to run the
bingo games.
Twenty years ago, the bingo con-
cept was widely opposed by United
Synagogue of America. Rabbi Nelson
said United Synagogue no longer
publicly criticizes bingo, adding that
bingo should not be criticized on
moral grounds.
"Some people look down on con-
gregations who have bingo, but it is
not something you can criticize bas-
ed on morals," Rabbi Nelson said.
"There are sources in the Talmud
where gambling was permitted. The
Talmud represents 1,000 years of
discussions, so there may be sources
in it that are more negative toward it.
There could come a day where we will
find other means of raising funds. If
someone would donate money, we
would give it up."
Dr. Harry Mainster, president of
Beth Abraham-Hillel Moses, said his
congregation abandoned bingo
several years ago. This year, however,
the board of directors authorized a car

raffle to raise funds for the
synagogue.
"Many people didn't realize that
we would have a sign advertising the
raffle," Mainster said. "Some people
thought having the car and a sign in
front of the synagogue wasn't the
greatest thing in the world?'

"I have always opposed
bingos as the basis of
fund-raising because
somebody always loses
in the process . . . The
synagogue should be
the one place where
such practices are not
employed."

Mainster said the congregation
members questioned its ethics.
"We questioned whether or not it
was demeaning for a synagogue to
participate in raffles and bingos and
the conclusion was that we had to sur-
vive," he said. "Any time you want to
do away with it, just find someone to
come up with $50,000:'
He said he does not condone bingo
or raffles.
The Jewish War Veterans relies
heavily on funds raised from bingo to
support its programs. Diane Joffe,
treasurer of the ladies auxiliary of the
Michigan Jewish War Veterans, said
it is just a business to the group.
"It's a business to raise money to
do the things we want to do to help
people," Joffe said.
Nick Gonte, bingo chairman for
Congregation B'nai David, believes
bingo is a good cause and should be
supported by all congregations.
"I want to put up a poster and
flyer advertising all the synagogue
bingos. One synagogue should help
the other. We all want to see our
synagogue do the best it can:"
He said bingo is a mechanism us-
ed strictly to pay bills. Clergy, he said,
most likely would prefer other
avenues for raising funds. But for now,
bingo is a necessity.
"After all, the clergy, too, has to
get paid?' Gonte said. ❑

Kate Messer is ready for another card.

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 25

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