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TZEDAKAH (CHARITY)
Tzedakah
Rabbi Robert N. Levine, D.D.
On a recent trip
to Israel I told our forty-five participants this story as we gazed
at the Temple Mount, the site of the First and Second Temples. The
midrash is told of two brothers who lived on opposite sides of the
hill. One brother was married with three children, the other was
single. One night the brother who was single woke up and said, "I
have abundant crops. There is so much more here than I can eat or
even sell for profit. Let me bring my brother some of my goods, for
he has three children and many more expenses than me." So he got up
in the middle of the night and brought the excess fruit and grains
to the top of the hill and left them for his brother.
That same night his
brother could not sleep. "I am surrounded by family who can help
provide a livelihood now and in the future. My brother has nothing
and is all alone. Let me take some of my food and provide for him,
for who knows when he will be in need and will be too proud to ask."
So he bundled up his good and brought them to the top of the hill.
That night the two brothers met and, realizing what each was trying
to do for the other, they embraced each other.
Jewish tradition
tells us that God decided at that moment to place the Holy Temple at
the top of that very mountain. To me this is a perfect story about
tzedakah. Tzedakah begins the moment we decide to think about other
people besides ourselves. When we think of how blessed we are and
that it is our obligation to share our blessings with others, the
impulse for tzedakah is born. We pray that Rodeph Sholom, shul and
school, will help to foster that instinct and that we will continue
to pass it on from generation to generation as one of Judaism's most
important teachings.
WHERE A GIFT IS NEEDED
Tzedakah and philanthropy are at the heart of Judaism and at the
heart of the Rodeph Sholom community. For over 165 years, this
community has answered the call for support of the annual Yom Kippur
Appeal, as well as responding with thoughtful generosity when needs
arose in the congregation and, during the past 30 years, at the
Rodeph Sholom School.
At the current time,
here are some ways you can give tzedakah at Congregation Rodeph
Sholom: -
YOM KIPPUR APPEAL
This annual campaign is
the primary development initiative for the congregation.
Beginning right before the High Holidays, the annual support of
all congregants, parents, and friends is solicited by the Board,
volunteers and staff.
[ click here to make a donation
]
-
TEMPLE FUND
The fund is used to supplement the operating income of the
congregation, which is primarily comprised of membership dues.
Gifts to the Temple Fund ensure that all who wish to join our
congregation and to participate in our community can do so
without regard to their ability to pay. No one is turned away.
The fund includes the Food Drive and Homeless Shelter Fund, as
well as honor/memorial gifts.
[
click here to make a donation
]
- YAHRZEIT DONATION
At the
time of remembrance, congregants or friends may wish to make a
gift of tzedakah to the Synagogue’s Temple Fund in memory of
their beloved – a way to make the memory tangible in the world.
[
click here to make a donation
]
- PRAYER BOOK FUND
This fund
provides for upkeep and replacement of the various prayer books
used by the congregation on a weekly and holiday basis. A prayer
book may be dedicated in honor or in memory of a loved one or a
special occasion.
[
click here to make a donation
]
- EDUCATION FUND
This fund helps cover a variety of continuing education
opportunities for the synagogue and community such as Basic
Hebrew, Tuesday night classes, multi-week courses or an evening
with an outstanding guest lecturer. Whether you can contribute
some or all of the year’s costs, your donation will be
invaluable.
[
click here to make a donation
]
- GENERAL MUSIC FUND
This fund was created to allow Rodeph Sholom
to undertake projects such as a CD compilation of our Shabbat melodies that
family and friends can listen to privately, whether for sheer
pleasure or for learning. The CD features Cantor Garfein and
our Rodeph Sholom musical forces. Future projects will be
undertaken as funds allow.
[
click here to make a donation
]
- SOLAR COOKER CAMPAIGN
Help
women and children in refugee camps in Darfur not fear for their lives
because they have to search for wood and risk
the Jinjaweed militia. Support the Solar
Cooker Campaign today and make a real
difference.
[
click here to make a donation
]
- CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
Phase II of the campaign
supports the construction of the Schnurmacher Chapel on the
sixth floor of the Temple, and the creation of a Middle School
on 79th Street for grades seven and eight, among many other
improvements to our facilities.
[
click here to make a donation
]
Capital Campaign [
more info
]
Schnurmacher Chapel [
more info ]
Rodeph Sholom Middle School [
more info
]
- SPECIAL ENDOWMENT
FUNDS
Rodeph Sholom has Special Endowment Funds that support various
areas of the synagogue, including music programs, the purchase
of library books, decorative restoration and maintenance of the
synagogue, and religious school tuition scholarships, among
others.
[
click here for a list of
Special Endowment Funds ]
Gifts of any size are appreciated and may be credited toward
existing funds. Gifts of $25,000 or higher can be used to
establish a new endowment fund named in honor of, or in tribute
to, the donor(s) or someone designated by the donor(s). Contact
the Development Office to get further information about
endowments and how to establish a permanent named endowment fund
through an outright or planned/estate gift.
We
are always available to discuss your specific concerns, questions
and situations. Please contact Deborah Siegel at (212)
362-8800 ext 3050 or send an email to
development@rodephsholom.org for assistance with your charitable
and philanthropic planning. | 
