Q. There is a fellow I met who lives in Israel and is collecting for the future wedding of his son. Due to the Kovid crisis he is not traveling and is calling by phone instead. The problem is that he calls at 3 or 4 AM! I told him that he wakes up all the family and scares the children who wake up and start crying (We leave the land-line on for emergencies). He tells me that this is the only time he knows he can reach me for sure. He called at least 4 times, Do I have to help him as I did on other occasions or am I being ‘Mesayea Lidvar Avera’ if I do?
A. On question 1541 regarding an elderly man collecting Tzeddaka in a shul. He walks around the shul to during the repetition of the Shmonei Esrai and thus causes others to respond and loose concentration. To what Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion was that if the shul permits to collect during the repetition of the Amida, he should be asked to do so only quietly.
On another similar question the Rov only permitted to collect only during the recitation of Pesukei Dezimra and not after Borchu, since it disturbs the Kavanah of the people reciting the Brochos of Shema and the Shema itself.
And on question 2602 in regard to Meshulachim that may be prime carriers of the (Covid) virus, collecting from door to door during the crisis and likely spreading the disease, (even when they have been given community help and support for avoiding this personal collection), if one contributing is a Mesayea or a helper to do a sin. we wrote: “Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that you may give him a donation, via the door mail slot or under the door etc., and it is not considered being Mesayea or a helper to do a transgression.”
In our case, Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that it is permitted to donate, when the receiver accepts not to anymore call at disturbing times.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as advised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit’a