By COLlive reporter
Photos by Itsik Roytman
Two known friends who are on either side of the giving and receiving relationship discussed the delicate friendship between a rabbi and his lead donors.
A packed crowd came to hear Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, Vice Chairman of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch, and George Rohr, one of Chabad’s greatest benefactors on Thursday.
Seated on yellow sofas at the Brooklyn Marriott hotel, they explained how donations are solicited and why donations are given based on personal experiences.
Rohr, President of the NCH Capital private equity firm, jokingly began describing the best way to begin cultivating a potential donor to support Chabad programs and activities.
“Invite him when he is a bochur for Shabbos, take him to ‘shlog’ kapparos, and when he faints be there to help him,” he said, clearly referring to his own journey and times spent with Rabbi Kotlarsky.
“Then arrange for him to be in 770 for Rosh Hashanah and stand at a good place for him to see the Rebbe blowing shofar,” he said about the spiritual moment that cemented his commitment to Chabad, which began by his renowned father, Sami Rohr OBM.
But on a practical note, Rohr said “there is no better way to build and hold a relationship and create a strong foundation (between a Shliach and a donor) like learning Torah together.”
“I see it in my own experience,” he said. “I learn Torah with Shluchim on an ongoing basis. It raises your relationship to a new level and puts you miles ahead of the game. I would say that step number one is to establish a relationship based on Limud HaTorah.”
A big no-no for Rabbis, Rohr added, is trying to make business deals or business partnerships. “It’s not your tafkid,” he said using the Hebrew word for mission or job role. “I took up one such deal and it was a rocky experience that almost ruined my relationship with a Shliach.”
Rabbi Kotlarsky, a seasoned traveler whose encounters and advocacy helped establish many Chabad centers, shared rare remarks from the Rebbe about fundraising.
It was after Rabbi Kotlarsky attempted to secure a large grant from a Manhattan foundation. The Rebbe said, “to raise funds, you have to go through sowing and plowing and all 39 Malachos (of Shabbos) to reap the benefits.”
Both Rohr and Rabbi Kotlarsky emphasized the need for honesty and transparency with benefactors. “When things go wrong, don’t hide or sugarcoat it. Being open is the only way to keep a long term relationship.”
In a Q&A session that followed, Rabbi Bentzi Sudak, CEO of Chabad-Lubavitch UK, asked Rohr what would be his elevator pitch for supporting Chabad.
“With Chabad you get more bang for you buck,” Rohr replied to the applause of the crowd. He then added, “I love the fact that you have no alternative but to succeed.”
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