Plaques

Q: Is it permissible according to Jewish Law to plaques that record donations be displayed in the synagogue? 

A:  I have yet to enter into a synagogue that does not have names of generous donors prominently displayed.  Community Centers throughout the United States have the names of the most generous givers. In Synagogues is not uncommon to see the embroidery on the mantle of the Torahs indicating that the scroll had been given by someone in memory of a loved one.  Names of rooms are given in accordance with the wishes of a benefactor that wanted his or her name to be preserved.

One argument against allowing names to appear throughout the synagogue is that names of the ones who have given are only of importance to the giver. They are likely to be even less meaningful in the future.  Another argument is that everyone should have an equal opportunity to build the synagogue and craft its adornments. Synagogues, this argument goes, should be constructed from communal funds. Furthermore, it might be argued that a mitzvah ought to be done for its own sake, lishma, and not for any vain purpose.

On the other side, one might well ask, who will be generous enough to give to the Jewish community without any public acknowledgment? It is entirely possible that people would not be moved to give to the needs of the community without public recognition. Furthermore, since tributes to the benefactors can be found in so many synagogues throughout the world (even in the old synagogue in Cordoba, Spain!) we can make a strong argument for precedence.

Perhaps the best response to this question can be found in Maimonides’ eight articles of tzedakah. To give with no expectation of acknowledgment is viewed as an act of the highest piety. But giving charity with an expectation of reward is still tzedakah.  It is an ideal which should not be derided even if the method of giving falls short.  Do not the rabbis say that even a mitzvah of unworthy motivation is still a mitzvah and out of the impure motive, purity emerges?  Insofar as the community is concerned, the giving of gifts is good no matter what the consideration.