Fare thee well? (a rhetorical question)

We Jews have such a rich tradition around the concept of giving and assisting others. In the preparation for the JYTF meetings, I encounter so many wonderful, lively, and interesting texts and ideas on the topic. I often marvel at how complex and intricate the details are in some of the references I find, all in the basic premise of improving another's situation and partnering with the Creator.

So, with such a foundation, imagine my bafflement at a recent opinion piece featuring a study of giving habits, both in the broader population and the Jewish population: http://www.forward.com/articles/120593/. In truth, I was shocked. Once I emerged from a bit of my own hypocrisy, I thought, how can we possibly explain/excuse this away, what with the virtual giving guidebook(s) we have in our culture?

The other point made in the piece is the definition of tzedakah. How broadly should it be defined?

So, what do you think: did the figures surprise you? What is tzedakah, in your view? Is Jill Jacobs making some good points, or just holding Jews, unfairly, to a higher standard?

Thoughts to ponder in the 'giving season'

The media has dubbed this time of year the 'giving season.' Any tzedakah-savvy person knows that all year is the time for giving. But we sometimes benefit from the media focus on giving.

Two cases in point: just this week the NY Times has run two articles on the general theme of giving. The first one covers research done on small children, showing that the urge to help is innate: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/01/science/01human.html?_r=1&ref=health. The second article explores the benefit to the giver, not so much the receiver: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/01/health/01well.html?ref=health.

So, what do you think: is helping an innately human trait? Or something that we teach? Does giving to or assisting someone else relieve the physical or emotional symptoms of one who is ill?

Evie blogs on our third meeting

At Sunday’s meeting, we had a simulation of the grant process. We split up into six groups, and three were organizations that were requesting funds, and three were foundations who were deciding where to give their money. We had to present our organizations in the best possible ways and make hard decisions about where to give our money.

Next we were split into different groups and we were each given a different assignment. One group had to make a skit about major ideas of Tzedakah. Another group had to find a text about Tzedakah that had to do with the game Jenga. A third group found a modern song that related to our texts, and the last group had to find ideas about Tzedakah in a fashion magazine. Though difficult, it showed us how the main ideas of Tzedakah can be applied in many different situations.

November meeting ideas

At our recent meeting we had the opportunity to understand a bit better how the grant process works. Everyone had some type of role in the process and the teens made it interesting and fun.

After an exercise in Jewish texts it was time to hand out our new t-shirts!

Evie has the scoop... take a look at her blog!

More on hunger in America

A new report was released today by the Agriculture Department. You can see the information here: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/17/us/17hunger.html?hp.

How does this report (or reality) impact you?

Blake blogs on the Poverty Simulation

I went to the poverty simulation at Beth Torah last Sunday (November 8th). At the simulation we were assigned a role, I was a 9 year old boy with learning disabilities, and you were put into a family. I had a dad who worked full time, a sister who went to school, had a job, and had a baby, she was 19, and my niece who was one year old. To help my family survive I had two jobs and i went to school. I learned that in times of desperation people will do whatever they have to to live. There were families in the simulation who had to steal. There were also teenagers who dropped out of school. I enjoyed the simulation mainly because I got to feel only a small small part of what some people go through every day and it made me more aware.

Food for Thought

When you hear the phrase 'food stamps' what do you think? What is your estimate of how many children in the U.S. rely on food stamps?

10%?

15%?

Take a look at this report relased early this month on food stamps and children in the U.S.:
http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2009/11/02/Many-US-children-to-be-on-food-stamps/UPI-95961257220576/

Now what do you think when you hear 'food stamps?'

Mission Possible!

So, you may be wondering, 'what is the Tzedakah Foundation planning to focus on?' I am proud to announce:

Jewish Youth Tzedakah Foundation

Mission Statement:
The Jewish Youth Tzedakah Foundation is focused on reducing the impact of poverty among Jews. Through the Jewish values of tzedakah and communal responsibility we hope to bring forth positive change.

This is a great year of young leaders making a huge impact in the community!

Stay tuned.......

Max blogs on our second meeting

In this week’s lesson the foundation determined our own personal values that each person assigns through Tzedekah. We learned that each person applies their personal circumstances which influence our ability to perceive value. The majority of the organization seemed to support the majority of the money being donated to influence college loans, which may be because we all have college on our minds.

After this exercise we moved on to narrowing down what exactly Tzedekah is, and how it is unique from Gimelut Chasidim, and Charity. We determined that Tzedekah is unique because it is a combination of both of these Jewish values, and that Tzedekah not only is the giving of money, but it is also determined by the motive. Without these key elements of value it would be hard for the foundation to determine Tzedekah’s worth because it would be nebulous.

Finally we worked on creating the foundation’s mission statement. The group managed to reach consensus and the struggle led to the fruitful results of our new mission statement. It is focused around helping Jews who are ailing from the plight of poverty. We came to a consensus that it was necessary to not focus on location because it would blind us from the troubles occurring in Israel, Europe, Africa, etc… if we specified locally. This consensus was a large leap forward in accomplishing our goal.

Marissa blogs on our second meeting

This past meeting, October 18, we finalized our mission statement. Before doing so, Miranda gave us each a fake dollar and had us decide what to do with it based on three different scenarios. The first scenario involved an old woman named Sylvia who shakes a can for 24 years asking for change for JNF. The second scenario involved a man named Mike who calls around Rosh Hashana and asks for donations for a college fund he started because his son was killed in the Holocaust. This was a free college loan. The third scenario involved a homeless person who comes up to your face and asks for money. I chose to give my dollar to the free college fund because it really hit home for me. I have to apply to colleges soon, and I would want to be able to pay for college. After this activity, we talked about the differences between charity, gemilut chasadim and tzedakah. We decided that charity is giving money to those in need, gemilut chasadim is kindness to others, and tzedakah is a mixture of the two. Then it was time to decide on our mission statement. We had a lot of trouble deciding what the main focus of our group was going to be, but we finally came to a consensus. The Jewish Youth Tzedakah Foundation is focused on reducing the impact of poverty among Jews.

On a Mission (from God?)

Our last meeting had quite a bit going on, but the main thing that we grappled with was forming a mission statement for the group. This mission statement is critical as it gives us and area or areas to focus on and a framework with which to proceed through the year. It is also the first 'test' if you will of the consensus decision making model. It was most interesting, but you will find out more from our bloggers this time. Take a look at their posts!

What motivates you?

Take a look at this article in today's NYTimes online: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/01/arts/01donor.html?hpw.

Aside of wishing for his email address, what do you think of his perspectives?

Sophie blogs on our first meeting September 13

This week was the inaugural session of the Youth Tzedakah Fund for this year. We spent a lot of time getting to know one another. We played games that helped us to understand one another, what is important to us, what inspires us and how we think. We spoke individually about our values and our beliefs. These conversations lead us to discuss how and why we construct a mission statement. The mission statement outlines our purpose and reason for being. We began the important work of crafting a statement as a group and had lively discussion about what should be included. Although we didn’t finish the statement we did narrow ideas that we want to include and what types of organizations we want to donate to. The types of organizations we want to serve focus on poverty and the environment. Next time we meet we plan to finalize the mission statement so that we can begin the challenging and exciting work of charity.

Our first meeting

We had a great first meeting on Sunday to kick-off the Foundation for this year. The teens shared their perspectives on values and priorities around giving. I could tell you more, but I would rather have one of teens fill you in. See Sophie's post!

Are you oriented?

Sunday August 30 was our orientation for teens and parents. We had a great turn-out and attendees got a taste of some of the activities and ideas we will be exploring as a group this year.


One of the topics we discussed was motivations: what motivates you in the volunteer work you do or the philanthropy you give? Some of the motivators were power, community, integrity, compassion, responsibility. As the teen foundation begins this year, they will examine some of their collective motivations in their giving. These ideas will help to shape their mission statement, the driving force behind what the teens will achieve together.

Stay tuned!

Welcome!

If you are reading this, you have some connection to the Jewish Youth Tzedakah Foundation. This blog will include related items of interest, including posts from our 2009-2010 Foundation members.

The Jewish Youth Tzedakah Foundation is a program of the Center for Jewish Education of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas. The Foundation exists to bring Jewish 10th and 11th graders together to learn about nonprofits, group decision making, and tzedakah, the Jewish responsibility to give. Together teens will contribute money that is then matched by a local donor. With these funds, they will request grant proposals, review them together, and determine as a group where their funds will be donated.

This program is generously funded by Carol and Alan Bernon, the Morton H. Meyerson Family Foundation, the Howard and Leslie Schultz Family Foundation, and the Jewish Teen Funders Network.