The fall season’s Jewish holidays are a time for prayer, introspection, charity, family, and many other important values and priorities. On Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we are judged and do everything within our power to be inscribed in the Book of Life. After experiencing the gravity of the Yamim Noraim (Days of Awe), Sukkot is a special time to rejoice with our loved ones.

 

Jewish philanthropists must work together in mutual respect and with a common agenda. We must focus on identifying and investing in effective grassroots initiatives with proven records of accomplishment that are led by the smartest professionals. We cannot be distracted by trying to create groups of funders with diverse interests and modes of operation, focusing solely on return on investment and establishing non-sustainable, donor-driven agendas.

Collective social problems like this one require collaborative – not individualistic, nor self-serving – solutions. To address Israeli society’s most pressing needs, it is time to start a critical discussion in the world of Jewish philanthropy about the direction we have been taking and the importance of cross-sector cooperation.

 

By understanding our collective responsibility – the principle that all the people of Israel are responsible for one another – we will be effective agents for change.

Read the full article by Shula Mozes on eJewish Philanthropy