Israeli Charity Faces $2.5 Million Lawsuit Over Donation Texts

The Israeli volunteer organization "Yedidim" is facing a proposed class-action lawsuit seeking 2.5 million shekels (approximately $675,000 USD) over allegations of sending unsolicited donation requests.

The lawsuit claims the organization sent promotional messages to individuals who had previously received its services without obtaining their consent. The plaintiff's attorney, Avraham Binyamin, stated that "no organization is above the law," asserting that advertising messages were sent to over a million people without their agreement, even after warnings and the initiation of legal proceedings.

Yedidim's CEO, Yisrael Almasi, expressed shock at the lawsuit, telling Kol Hai radio that the organization only sends two donation requests annually, one before the Purim holiday and another before Yom Kippur. He highlighted Yedidim's extensive volunteer network of approximately 65,000 individuals who handled nearly a million cases last year, assisting the public in routine and emergency situations, all managed by volunteers.

Almasi noted that volunteers are currently busy building sukkahs for the elderly and needy families. The organization's pro bono legal counsel argued that each donation request message included an accessible option to unsubscribe and called the lawsuit "absurd," as any awarded sum would directly reduce funds intended for public assistance.

The defense also stated that the lawyer representing Yedidim is providing her services entirely voluntarily.