Q:
How can the yeshivos today justify using bingo, which is a form of gambling and a foolish way for people to spend their time, to raise money to support their endeavors? And not just yeshivos, but shuls do it too.
A:
This gentleman asks how can we condone the use of bingo?
Well, I could. But I won’t do it because I don’t like the idea myself.
However, just to speak up for the ones who play bingo: the bingo halls are in low districts and usually they are patronized by low people. They are non Jews mostly and people whose time won’t be spent in anything better. In fact, to be in the bingo hall is a good thing for them. For them it’s a moral atmosphere, better than other places where they’ll go.
And so actually, al pi halachah and according to ethics there’s nothing wrong with it. It’s a form of endeavor that’s countenanced by the law; it’s not illegal. And in itself what’s wrong? People want to waste their money. Let them do it.
And so even though I personally don’t like the flavor of it but I certainly cannot condemn those who do it, because, intrinsically, there is nothing sinful in it.
The word ‘gambling’ in itself is meaningless. The gentiles, some of the gentiles, have put a stigma on the word ‘gambling’. What’s wrong with gambling? Let’s think it over. What’s wrong with gambling? Drinking? Yes. It ruins a person’s health. It ruins his morals. Even smoking. Smoking is much worse than gambling because smoking is known to ruin one’s health. But gambling? You say it ruins one’s money? People lose their money? If it’s in a limited way, you can’t lose much. In the bingo hall you can’t lose very much.
And therefore, although I don’t condone gambling, and people who put a lot of money on horses and they are constantly in debt are fools and they’re certainly not tzaddikim and they certainly are in bad company when they’re among bookies and racehorse crowds, but when you come to a bingo hall run by a synagogue it’s not that terrible.
TAPE #150 (December 1976)
