That's always how I understood it, it's just nepotism taken to the extreme. Instead of just your family and some friends, it ends up being your family, your friends, anyone from your synagogue and anyone who knows someone from your synagogue. And it comes with the added pressure that you might not be considered a good jew if you don't participate and help your fellow jews.
That's always how I understood it, it's just nepotism taken to the extreme. Instead of just your family and some friends, it ends up being your family, your friends, anyone from your synagogue and anyone who knows someone from your synagogue. And it comes with the added pressure that you might not be considered a good jew if you don't participate and help your fellow jews.