Wonderings 34 Worthy Causes
An adult student of mine let me know that during the pandemic they were receiving a little over $280 in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, but as of March 1 the pandemic "extra" has ended and she now will be receiving a little less than $80.
You know that tzedakah is a mitzvah, and in this case that means that not only is it a "good deed" to help others who are in need of basic necessitites, it is a commandment to help take care of each other.
You also know how committed I am - and B'nai Zion is - to supporting organizations in our area (and elsewhere) that provide food to those who are "food insecure."
You also know that food is not the only thing that some people need to survive, but need help acquiring. There are many mitzvot that address these needs, that we need to be doing.
I know that many people in our congregation do help others. Often the help is given fairly "quietly" so that no one else may know about their generosity and helpfulness.
Jewish tradition teaches that one of the greatest ways to fulfill the mitzvah of tzedakah is by giving in ways that the giver does not know who the receiver is, and the receiver does not know who the giver is.
One example of a creative cause I heard about at the beginning of the pandemic. One of my CNYFTY (Central New York Federation of Temple Youth - which was what I was active in instead of SoFTY) friends told me about her "knit-zvah" project. She was making cotton "knitted knockers" for women who had mastectomies from breast cancer. The cotton was comfortable and washable and did not cause irritation for most women. I have passed the idea to many people, who then began their own knit-zvah knocker projects. The truth is, I am not knitting them, but I glad that others are.
This week I am wondering: Are there needs today that you think are especially urgent? I am not asking in what ways you help others - although I would be glad to know. I am curious about the causes you could recommend and the ways to help - especially if they are interesting. Sometimes the best way to find out about worthwhile causes is from people we trust. And sometimes it helps to hear about causes that we should avoid. Please let me hear from you about your recommended tzedakah mitzvah suggestions.
Once again, I want to thank everyone who has responded to my "Wonderings." You are always welcome to respond to any of the questions I have asked by calling or emailing, no matter how long ago the question was originally posed. You can also choose to keep your replies totally private, and not be posted on the Responses page. I always try to remove personal / identifying details when I do post the replies.
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Responses:
Always need volunteers to work in the office
This is a tough topic for me because it seems overwhelming. Everywhere I look there are needs from children to the elderly to animals and everyone and thing in between.
I believe in paying for kids’ lunches at school. I look for opportunities where maybe someone is putting something back because they can’t afford it in the check out line or their card declines and they can’t get basic necessities. I don’t like people knowing what I’m doing because I would rather it be anonymous tzedakah. But in some cases, people just need what they need in the moment and it is t possible to conceal the gift. I always just brush it off and say, it’s happened to me (truthfully) — no worries. All good. And then I go on about my business to downplay it and try to restore their dignity/ repair the brokenness. I just can’t stand suffering of any kind — be it human or animal — and whatever I can do to alleviate it, I want to and I try (b’li neder).
We also rescue many animals. I can’t let them suffer, go hungry or freeze. Animal shelters always need donations. Chewy partners with them but they’ll take whatever they can get. Making and placing warm shelters for stray animals in the winter is also needed.
I love the random literary boxes with free books to offer neighborhoods. I have a Jewish friend who built one of his own and he often puts books in to replenish the stock.
I’ve offered free ESL and literary classes as well as citizenship classes. That’s a great service.
Checking on elderly people in your neighbourhood, offering to run errands, making them meals, making sure they have what they need is also a tremendous blessing. We need to honor our grey hair in the community. The same can be said for many veterans.
Your knitting project reminds me of those who make caps and snoods for cancer patients or those with alopecia. There were those who also made tiny pillows to fit over your seat belt to protect those who have a port (for chemo or dialysis).
We actually have a tzedekah box on our dining table. How can we light candles ont hat table, eat on that table and not remember tzedekah? So often we are reminded that when we pray, we also pick up a mitzvah and give tzedekah. It is customary. We need not forget these timeless practices from generations past.
The list goes on. Everywhere I look, there are needs waiting for tzedekah. [K]