We are all thinking about Israel during this challenging time and looking for ways to connect our students, children and families to the situation and to do something concrete to make a difference. This article below was published by CAJE in 2004 and I am posting it here because the ideas are still applicable. I Continue Reading »
In November 2010, Shira Hammerman, Areyvut’s Educational Consultant, gave a session entitled Connecting to the Land of Israel Through Chesed at the New Jersey Association of Jewish Day Schools Conference. Her presentation is available and can help you develop strategies to address the current situation with your students. If you have developed educational resources to address Continue Reading »
Israel’s Registrar of Charities put out “10 Golden Rules for Donors,” setting some guidelines for individual givers. These guidelines will also help non-profit organizations in Israel who will surely get funding from the Government’s Registrar if they listen to their own advice. Check it out here to see some good suggestions for all of us.
Gifts that Give Hope is an organization that has been changing the focus of the holiday season from one of “giving stuff” to one of “giving hope.” Instead of buying material objects for family and friends, this organization holds fairs where people can support non-profit organizations in another’s honor. In this way, one can both Continue Reading »
Young Philanthropists Foundation is an organization founded by Alexis Boian that enables children and their families to help their communities in different ways. This is similar to our Jewish Teen Philanthropy Program where students are given a certain amount of money and are presented with various non-profit options. They are then aided and guided through the Continue Reading »
In an article by Tamar Snyder, she discusses the incorrect assumption that only men can be philanthropists. According to research, however, women are more likely to donate to charities than men. She then proceeds to list different strategies and tips to help women be in control of their philanthropic activities. Some of these include making Continue Reading »
Sharon Duke Ostroff wrote a recent article about a very interesting method to teach kids about the value of money. She discusses how most young children do not have the mental ability to understand that some things cost more than others, and that some are not worth buying. Ostroff developed a system called the Spend/Save/Tzedakah Continue Reading »
Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks makes a very bold statement: “Our community could not exist for a day without its volunteers.” He says this after discussing the usual lack of volunteers in England’s culture, pointing out that Jews know the importance of volunteering “in their bones.” I find that to be such a beautiful way Continue Reading »
A recent article in The Chronicle of Philanthropy discusses a study that looked at the effects of peer pressure on volunteering. Their findings were very interesting, showing that most teenagers who have friends who regularly volunteer end up volunteering as well. This, among other findings, portray the positive effects that teenagers’ concern for their social Continue Reading »
Matt Shafer of East Brunswick, NJ decided to do a mitzvah project on the occasion of his Bar Mitzvah. He ordered and sold wristbands that said “Peace 2012” and with that he raised $5,000! Matt used this money to purchase 250 “shlukers,” which are water backpacks for soldiers in the Israeli army. These have a Continue Reading »
