Reimagining Tzedakah for the 21st Century - Where Do You Give?

Spare Change is an independent newspaper in Boston, which is mostly written and entirely distributed by homeless and formerly homeless individuals. The newspaper serves as an economic opportunity for people working their way out of homelessness, as vendors buy copies of the paper from the... Read more

Recently I had the opportunity to see the third session of our Where Do You Give? Tzedakah Curriculum piloted in a 6th grade class at Congregation Beth Elohim in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

The lesson was fantastic, mixing different activities and types of learning, including a physical look at... Read more

Where Do You Give? is all about thinking more deeply about where and how and why we give tzedakah. 

For me, one of the most important ways I can engage my family and friends in this crucial conversation is to ask them to donate to causes and organizations I believe in. It’s a way to... Read more

A couple of years ago, based on studying I was doing about the Jewish laws related to tzedakah and other motivations outlined here, I decided to give away ten percent of my income. I set up a second bank account, and redirected 10% of my pay check’s direct deposit to it. I was feeling... Read more

I’m a couple of years out of college with the student loans to show for it, living in the rent-is-too-damn-high-Manhattan, and working at an entry level job at a non-profit. So it may not shock you to learn that I don’t have the disposable income of a Bill Gates. I’m not facing... Read more

The American Jewish community has been lauded in many circles for its generosity. Jews gave 12% of all charitable gifts over $1 million in America in 2001-2003, despite making up less than 2% of the population. And it’s not just the wealthy among us. Although there has not been a great... Read more