I am writing to raise a concern about a practice that seems to be becoming increasingly common in shuls around town: individuals collecting tzedakah while displaying explicit medical images of patients’ illnesses or injuries in order to elicit donations.

There is no question that many of these people are facing genuine and heartbreaking medical situations, and that their families may be in desperate need of financial assistance. The community has always shown tremendous compassion and generosity toward people in need.

At the same time, I believe there should be a line when it comes to how those appeals are presented.

Displaying graphic medical images in a shul can be deeply uncomfortable and disturbing, particularly for children and teenagers who may be present. A person should not have to encounter explicit images of a serious illness or injury simply because they walked into a shul and someone is collecting money.

Our community understands the importance of tzedakah and does not need graphic images to teach us to care. There are many ways to communicate the seriousness of a medical situation—through written descriptions, letters, or discreet informational materials—without putting explicit images on display.

This is not a criticism of the individuals or families seeking assistance. Their circumstances may be extremely difficult, and they deserve our support. My concern is specifically with the method of fundraising and whether there are more appropriate ways to appeal to the generosity of the community.

I think this is actually hurting their chances of someone coming over to donate.

We can—and should—remain a community that gives generously without sacrificing dignity, sensitivity, and basic standards of appropriateness.

Thank you for considering this.