Congregation Ohr Torah Information

Congregation Ohr Torah, in the exercise of its religious and charitable purposes, has established a Rabbi's Discretionary Fund ('RDF') to assist persons in financial need. Congregation Ohr Torah welcomes contributions to the fund. Donors are free to suggest beneficiaries of the fund or of their contributions to the fund. However, such suggestions shall be deemed advisory rather than mandatory in nature. Although the Rabbi of Congregation Ohr Torah acts as agent of the synagogue in disbursing funds from the RDF, the administration of the fund, including all disbursements, is subject to review by and will be under the exclusive control and discretion of the Board of Directors of Congregation Ohr Torah ('the Board'). The Rabbi and Board may consider suggested donations, but in no event will they be bound in any way to honor them, since they are accepted only on the conditions that they are merely nonbinding suggestions or recommendations. As a result, donors will not be entitled to a return of their designated contributions on the ground that Congregation Ohr Torah failed to honor their designations. With respect to review of RDF disbursement of funds, Board oversight will be done with care and sensitivity. The Board will not violate confidentiality or expose any recipients of RDF funds to embarrassment. It will be accomplished by having the Rabbi report by category the kind of uses to which he had put the funds, along with more detailed review annually by the President and/or one or two officers of the synagogue or outside auditors who are under an obligation to keep details about any individual recipient confidential. Donors wishing to make contributions to the RDF subject to these conditions may be able to deduct their contributions if they itemize their deductions on their federal tax return and subject to other conditions and limitations provided for in the Internal Revenue Code. Congregation Ohr Torah cannot guarantee this result and recommends that donors who want assurance that their contributions are deductible seek the advice of a tax attorney for CPA. Checks should be made payable to Congregation Ohr Torah, with a notation that the funds are to be placed in the Congregation Ohr Torah RDF.