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When I go to Israel, inevitably, several people give me shlichut money to donate to needy at the Kotel.

If I can't get to the Kotel, am I allowed to donate this money to anyone else at any other location? Or should I return the money to the donator?

Assume that the donor said, "Give this money to someone at the Kotel," but did not specify either way that I can donate this elsewhere. Knowing something about the people's general personalities, I assume that they don't mind if I donate to a poor person in Tirat Tzvi.

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    The general rule for fulfilling the mitzvah of shlichut (agency) is that you comply with the instructions of the one who sent you. Hopefully, prior to taking on the responsibility, the agent has clarified with the sender any contingencies if the mission changes. This is actually discussed at length by the Lubavitcher Rebbe as it applies in halacha in Sefer HaShlichut.
    – Yaacov Deane
    Jul 15, 2019 at 15:22
  • You can always give the money to someone else to bring to the Kosel for you. A Shliach can make another Shliach.
    – DonielF
    Jul 15, 2019 at 15:44
  • At first glance when a man says to give at the kotel it is Davka. There is a Mishna in gittinתן גט לאשתי במקום פלוניversus הרי הוא במקום פלוני
    – kouty
    Jul 15, 2019 at 16:54
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    @DonielF This may sound strange, but assume that I am travelling solo and don't know anyone that I can trust to do the job, esp. on Tish'a B'Av. (Read the morning haftarah to understand this bad joke ;-)
    – DanF
    Jul 15, 2019 at 16:55
  • I would be surprised if they have online donations
    – Dr. Shmuel
    Jul 15, 2019 at 16:58

1 Answer 1

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When somebody gives you money to donate on their behalf to a needy cause, you are simply their messenger to do so and you are not allowed to use that money for anything else. In fact, once they have taken a physical action towards getting that money to that cause, such as giving the money to someone to take for them, they should also not change it since they have already dedicated it to that cause.

Hence this really should be stipulated to begin with. Before they give you the money, you should stipulate that you might not be able to get the money to that specific cause and request that they stipulate what you should do with it in that case.

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    Welcome to MY! Would you consider adding sources to your answer? Since we don't know you in person, this would add much to the credibility of your answer.
    – Kazi bácsi
    Jul 16, 2019 at 7:28
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    This is a interesting guess. Not too useful for anyone who doesn't know you enough to trust your guesses, though. After all we all could write guesses of what the answer is.
    – Double AA ♦
    Jul 16, 2019 at 11:41
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    You also haven't exactly answered my question addressing the specific situation. I asked what someone should do if he cannot get to the specific place that the donor specified.
    – DanF
    Jul 16, 2019 at 13:30

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