My Favorite Jewish Causes
Over the years, I have come across many wonderful organizations doing vital work in Israel and in Jewish communities around the world. Two in particular are very close to my heart, and I want to share them with you.
Leket Israel is Israel’s national food bank and the country’s only organization dedicated exclusively to food rescue. They collect surplus produce from farms and prepared meals from restaurants, caterers, and corporate kitchens, and distribute it all to those in need through a network of partner charities.
The numbers are staggering: Leket rescues roughly 10,000 tons of fruits and vegetables every year, distributes over one million prepared meals, and reaches approximately 100,000 people — all with the help of some 10,000 volunteers. Their work tackles two problems at once: hunger and food waste.
What I love about Leket is how deeply rooted it is in the Jewish value of bal tashchit — the prohibition against wastefulness — and in the ancient practice of leket, leaving the gleanings of the harvest for the poor. They even offer meaningful Bar and Bat Mitzvah programs where families can volunteer together. It is a beautiful thing.
Orr Shalom has been caring for Israel’s most vulnerable children for over 45 years. They serve approximately 1,300 at-risk children and youth each year — kids who have been removed from their homes by court order and need a safe, loving place to grow up.
What makes Orr Shalom special is their “complementary family” approach. Rather than institutional care, they place children with foster families, in therapeutic group homes, and in graduate support programs for young adults aging out of the system. They even run a specialized program for at-risk young mothers and their babies. The idea is to complement the biological family, not replace it, and to give every child a real chance at independence and a meaningful life.
With over 480 foster families and 20 therapeutic family group homes, Orr Shalom’s model has become a standard that other organizations in Israel look to. Their dedication to these children is nothing short of inspiring.
Learn more at orr-shalom.org.il →
The Academy for Jewish Religion is my rabbinical school alma mater, and a truly pluralistic and growing, stellar educational institution.
Other Worthy Causes
There are so many causes that are worthy of your resources. While I have listed some that are very close to my heart, there are so many more deserving mention:
- Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
- Jewish National Fund (JNF)
- Friends of the IDF
- Holocaust Awareness Memorial & Education Center
- The Cantors Assembly
If you are looking for a way to make a difference, I encourage you to visit these organizations and consider supporting their work. Every bit helps.