IX. Grassroots Tzedakah Funds X. Peace, Reconciliation, and Conflict Resolution XI. Immigrants: New Israelis, New Americans

1999 Report - Table of Contents Return to Previous Section | Continue Report

IX. Grassroots Tzedakah Funds

Ziv's work is hardly original. We know and support several other programs located throughout the United States and Israel that work not only directly with individuals in need but also with minimal - and in some cases - no administrative costs.

A. THE VA'AD AT JTS ($1,000)

The Jewish Theological Seminary in New York has an excellent program, Va'ad Gemilut Hasadim, which unites the students, faculty, and administration for a variety of hands-on Mitzvah projects. In addition, they raise and distribute Tzedakah money for many different causes in Israel, the United States, and the New York community. They are now embarking upon a food retrieval program for the seminary's cafeteria's leftovers.

[Va'ad Gemilut Hasadim, 3080 Broadway, #634 Brush, New York, NY 10027, Attn: Cheryl Asarkof or Rabbi Carol Davidson, 212-678-8916, fax: 864-0109, e-mail: vaad_slo@jtsa.edu, Website: www.jtsa.edu/facstud/vaad/.]

B. PHILADELPHIA ($1,800)
We love to hear from Eileen Sklaroff, head of the oldest free-standing American Jewish Tzedakah fund in continuous existence. She is another Tzadeket. The Female Hebrew Benevolent Society, founded in 1819 by several women from Congregation Mikveh Israel, and guided by Rebecca Gratz, is an integral part of the Philadelphia community. Acknowledging that they are there "for women who have fallen through the cracks," the group serves Jewish women of all ages, providing for life's basic necessities. In this special organization, 100% of donated funds go to women with emergency needs.

[Female Hebrew Benevolent Society, 2112 Spring St., Philadelphia, PA 19103, Attn: Eileen Sklaroff, phone: 215-563-2773, e-mail: tikkun36@aol.com.]

C. OMAHA ($500)
Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback started his organization, Kavod, while he was still a rabbinical student. Now, more than six years old, Kavod supports many grass-roots projects in Israel and the United States.

[Kavod, 8907 Farnam Court, Omaha, NE 68114, Attn: Rabbi Josh Zweiback, phone: 402-397-3906, e-mail: kavod1@aol.com, Website: www.kavod.com.]

D. BOSTON ($200)
The gentle-mannered Bob Housman provides for the critical needs of many of Boston's poor Jews. Whether it be food, clothing, subsidies for shelter, or interest-free loans, Bob has made a difference in the lives of hundreds of people with his lifesaving efforts.

[Yad Chessed, 46 Columbia St., Brookline, MA 02446, Attn: Robert Housman, 617-738-8449, e-mail: bobh@csports.com.]

E. BAMBI OF JERUSALEM ($500)
Rachel (Bamberger) Chalkovsky is the chief midwife at Jerusalem's Shaare Zedek Medical Center. In that position she becomes familiar with many families living "on the edge." Her fund supports more than 500 families for whom her care and attention make the difference.

[Rachel Chalkovsky, 3 Azriel St., Jerusalem, Israel, phone: 02-652-6721. Contributions made out to "Matan BeSeter B.A.M.B.I."]

F. PHOENIX ($180)
We have been familiar with the work of Stan and Betty Mayersohn's Tzedakah Fund, Inc. for many years. Now Stan and Betty have turned over the day-to-day operation of their fund to Nina Targovnik and their fine work in the Phoenix area continues.

[Tzedakah Fund, Inc., c/o Nina Targovnik, 1030 E. Keim, Phoenix, AZ 85014, 602-264-6899, e-mail: a1656@amug.org.]

G. DENVER ($360)
With no fanfare, no bulky administration, Friends of Man in Denver is making a difference in the lives of so many people in Denver.

[Friends of Man, POB 2919, Littleton, CO 80161, Attn: Stuart or Ellen Witkin, 303-337-4377.]

H. THE SHEFA FUND ($400)
The Shefa Fund's program - while larger in scope than the previously-mentioned projects - supports many wonderful projects. Most important, it is an exceptional resource for creative Tzedakah giving. We highly recommend their excellent publications on socially responsible giving. Shefa teaches us a great deal about how best to do Tikkun Olam.

[Shefa Fund, 805 E. Willow Grove Ave., 2D, Wyndmoor, PA 19038, Attn: Jeffrey Dekro, phone: 215-247-9704, fax: 247-1015, e-mail: shefafnd@libertynet.org.]

X. Peace, Reconciliation, and Conflict Resolution

A. BUILDING BRIDGES OF PEACE ($750)*
Melodye Feldman and her organization, Seeking Common Ground, are celebrating their fifth anniversary in the peace-making business. SCG is a fine example of trying to bring about peace by working with individuals. Their summer program unites young Israelis, Arabs, and Americans from diverse cultural, religious, socio-economic, and ethnic backgrounds. While living together in a Colorado summer camp, they work toward understanding each other's background and differences. With the new skills and attitudes that they have learned in this setting, they return home to begin the arduous task of building peace within their communities. We are impressed with their results.

[Seeking Common Ground, Melodye Feldman, Executive Director, P.O. Box 101958, Denver, Colorado, 80250, phone: 303-698-9368, fax: 698-9764, e-mail: bbfpeace@aol.com, website: http://ajp.com/scg.]

B. PEACE THROUGH HUMOR ($1,500)
We have known Maureen Kushner and her Peace Through Humor Project for more than three years. Another fine example of using one's talents to do Mitzvahs, Maureen, an art teacher, has worked in schools throughout Israel using the medium of art to get Israeli and Arab kids to express their feelings about peace. In her most recent project, Maureen is working with Ethiopian kids, having them paint scenes depicting life in their home country as well as in their newly-adopted land. Such beautiful paintings! Already on display at the Miami International Airport, the exhibit will also travel to other parts of the country.

[Maureen Kushner, Peace Through Humor, 122 Park Place, Brooklyn, NY 11217, 718-230-5369.]

C. SINGING FOR UNDERSTANDING ($300)*
There are many Mitzvah-methods for bringing about understanding, reconciliation, conflict resolution, and peace. Among them are face-to-face discussions, formal mediation, role playing, ropes courses, and shared art projects. Bruce Vantine has created a chorus whose content and style promotes mutual respect and understanding among diverse groups.

[Cornerstone Chorale and Brass, POB 4010, Flourissant, MO 63032, Attn: Bruce Vantine, 314-838-4383.]

 

XI. Immigrants: New Israelis, New Americans

A. ETHIOPIAN IMMIGRATION ($21,000)
We are proud of Barbara Ribakove Gordon and the work of the North American Conference on Ethiopian Jewry (NACOEJ). They were on the scene during the original migration of Ethiopian Jews many years ago, and today they continue to work on behalf of the latest groups who have recently arrived in Israel, as well as those who await permission to leave their homeland. Ziv has traditionally supported their efforts to provide critically-needed school supplies and after-school programs. Recently, we provided not only much-needed food, but also the possibility of a Passover Seder for those who remain in famine-stricken Ethiopia. We recommend their website for up-to-the minute details on this latest migration.

[NACOEJ, 132 Nassau St., #412, NY, NY 10038, Attn: Barbara Ribakove Gordon, 212-233-5200, fax: 233-5243, e-mail: NACOEJ@aol.com, Website: www.circus.com/nacoej/.]

B. JOËL AND THE YA'AKOV MAIMON VOLUNTEERS ($22,000)
Joël (pronounced "Yo-ayl") Dorkam is a Giant. One of God's Very Best. As director of the Ya'akov Maimon Volunteers, Joël and his group are known to nearly every immigrant arriving in Israel. Though their primary purpose is to provide tutors for the large numbers of recent arrivals, the Maimon volunteers befriend the individuals and families and work with them as they adjust to their new life in Israel. If you speak to any sabra in Israel and mention the name, "Maimon Volunteer," you will get an instant smile of recognition.

[Joël Dorkam, Ya'akov Maimon Volunteers, Kibbutz Tzuba, Doar Na Haray Yehuda, Israel, phone: 02-534-7871, cellular phone: 052-428-560, fax: 02-534-7955. In the U.S., contact Shirley Lowenstein, 15a Stony Run, Kingston, NY 12401, 914-338-3101. Tax-deductible contributions through PEF-Israel Endowments, Section II:A.]

C. ALICE JONAH - ONE WOMAN MAKING A DIFFERENCE ($4,500)
The old Diplomat Hotel in Jerusalem is home for many immigrants who have not yet "made it" in Israeli society. Our visits here to see the work of Alice Jonah have been startling. We have met former Russian opera stars, ballerinas, physicists, and others now living year after year in what were once hotel rooms. These single rooms are where they sleep, eat and spend their waking hours. Alice Jonah would not call her efforts to improve their lives particularly heroic. And yet, without her, many of these people would be lost. She works daily, providing for their very basic needs and encourages them in this hard struggle. This is truly front-line Mitzvah work and we are proud to be part of it.

[Alice Jonah, Efrata St. 34/10, Jerusalem, phone: 02-672-1548, e-mail: effry@zsoft.com.]

D. IMMIGRANTS IN ISRAEL ($2,000)
Our friend, Rabbi Jonathan Porath, has been working for years with the immigrants in the Ramot neighborhood of Jerusalem. This year, our donation not only provided for the usual necessities but also insured a sweet Pesach for Israel's newest citizens.

[Keren Klitat Aliya Neve Orot, Rabbi Jonathan Porath, Nerot Shabbat St. 623/10, Ramot Alef, Jerusalem, 02-586-8757, fax: 02-561-0491, e-mail:jporath@jdc.org.il.]

E. MIGRANT WORKERS ($8,771.04)
Very few of us ever stop to think about the work that is involved in getting that ripe, succulent piece of fruit to our plate. Caridad Asensio has devoted her life to migrant workers, who are harvesting nature's bounty. Though started on a small scale, Caridad's center now provides housing, basic daily needs, education, and medical care to these families. We were pleased, a few years ago, to witness the opening of her fine clinic, which provides the latest medical attention and social services to the migrant workers. We recently purchased another previously-owned mobile home that will be used as housing for a family. Other funds were used for equipment, supplies, and scholarships for educational opportunities. Caridad and her fine staff offer their services with Dignity and Care.

[Migrant Association of South Florida, Inc., 8645 W. Boynton Beach Blvd., Boynton Beach, FL 33437, Attn: Caridad Asensio, 561-737-6336, fax: 274-0077, cellular phone: 561-271-0924. Or call Caridad's assistant, Connie Berry, 561-963-3473.]

Return to Previous Section | Continue Report

2002 Annual Report | Curriculum | Books | Links | 116 Mitzvah Suggestions
top of page