Times have changed and while once, collecting funds for mosdos was under the radar, officials in many countries today are looking for undeclared income in places previously unimaginable, and this has created new realities, albeit some unwanted ones, for many who are actively engaged in fundraising.
This is applicable in the United States too, and chareidim are among those under suspicion.
The Slonimer Rebbe Shlita arrived at the airport on Wednesday night for his flight home, winding down a two-week fundraising effort for his mosdos and he was detained for questioning as inspectors feared he was carrying more than the permitted amount of cash.
During his visit, the rebbe was raising money to build a yeshiva gedola in Elad.
They rebbe and his entourage were flying out of Newark Liberty International Airport. He was asked if he was bringing cash with him.
They were all checked as were their bags and as a result of the inspection, they missed their flight.
Askanim came to the airport and arranged for another flight to Israel.
As a result, the rebbe missed participating in Thursday morning shachris minyan in the Beis Medrash in Bnei Brak.
It is reported that in recent months, a number of admorim were stopped for such inspections at Newark Airport including the Rebbe of Vishnitz Shlita, Toldos Avraham Yitzchok Shlita and Dushinsky Shlita.
לידיעת הנוסעים *מNewark Airport* לישראל:
האדמו״ר מסלאנים (שווארצע) עוכב אתמול בשרוול המטוס ביציאה מניוארק עירפארט ע״י סוכני משטרת הגבולות (בחודשים האחרונים כל יהודי חרדי נבדק) ונשאל לסכום הכסף שיש איתו, הוא ענה שאינו יודע, הגבאי אמר בערך $5,000 או אז הופשטו ונבדקו ונמצאו $25,000 כל הכסף נלקח ע״י הרשויות, וכדי בזיון וקצף…
אלו הכללים לנוסעים:
א) להצהיר על סכום מדוייק,
ב) לא יותר מ-10,000,
ג) כולל סכום הצ׳קים,
ד) לא להתחכם,