> I believe I read somewhere that they're technicaly not, for some
> religious reason; but I've come to muddle the issue, not to clarify it:
>
> Assuming I'm right, let's say you deduct it anyway: If the IRS disallows
> it, then, they'd be doing so based on religious grounds, which of course
> they couldn't do.
The IRS definitely allows contributions to religious organizations to be
deducted for those individuals who itemize their income tax deductions.
For those who are interested, I can provide more detail.
Your comments, however, raise another issue that has often bothered me:
why do synagogues charge people to belong? I know for a fact that not as
many people participate in synagoge activities because membership is so
expensive. Without knowing, I'm guessing that the issue of whether
halacha considers membership dues charity is unanswered in the early
texts. That's probably because, and again I'm only guessing, in the past
people didn't have to PAY to pray!
In this time of crisis in American Judaism, shouldn't synagogues be doing
all that is possible to bring people in? Does this jive with high
membership dues?
Jonathan Robbins
Jonathan@gwis2.circ.gwu.edu