DEVELOPING (OR REVISING!) YOUR TZEDAKAH MISSION STATEMENT
What are three of your core values? 1. 2. 3. If you could use your money to change (up to) three things in the world-or to solve three problems facing the Jewish people, America, or humanity--what would they be? 1. 2. 3.
If you’d like some ideas, look at the sheet of values and issues on the following page. . .A
List of Values
acceptance achrayut/responsibility ahavah/love ahavat yisrael/love of all Jewish people areyvut/mutual responsibility bal taschit/not destroying the environment beauty cherut/freedom chesed/loyalty-kindness chochmah/wisdom communication courage creativity
daat/knowledge democracy dignity diversity emunah/faith equality hachnasat orchim/welcoming people into your home and community hakarat hatov/recognizing the good in others hiddur pnai zaken/respect for elders honesty integrity kehillah/community
kibbud av va’em/respect for parents mishpacha/family opportunity rachamim/compassion refuah/healing respect service
simcha/joy simplicity shalom/peace tikkun olam/repairing the world tzedek/justice tzelem elohim/all people are created in God’s image
A List of Issues
AIDS animals antisemitism antiracism arts boys civil rights corporate responsibility developing nations disabled people disaster relief domestic violence economic justice education employment--jobs and training environment electoral reform gay/lesbian/bisexual rights girls gun control health care/medicine homelessness/affordable housing human rights immigrants’ rights and services inner cities Israel Jewish education Jews in other countries libraries media Native American rights peace/conflict resolution poverty prison reform race relations reproductive rights senior citizens spiritual development substance abuse synagogue women’s rights youth/teens
Adapted from Tracy Gary and Melissa Kohner, Inspired PhilanthropyPick one or two of the
values that you wrote down, and talk with a partner about these questions: How did that value come to be important to you? Are there family members, friends, teachers, books, classes, heroes, movies, music, events in history that have influenced you or implanted that value in you? How does that value show up in your life already--in the way you act in your family, toward friends, or in the wider world? What connections are there between an issue you care about and that value?
Examples of Mission Statements
Harold Grinspoon Foundation To enhance the vibrancy of Jewish life in Western Massachusetts and beyond. Through education and experiences, we impart the knowledge and values of our heritage and the joys of being Jewish.
Jewish Fund for Justice The Jewish Fund for Justice is the only national Jewish organization solely committed to fighting the injustice of poverty in America. By assisting grassroots organizations of low-income people from all backgrounds and faiths struggling for decent housing, schools, health care and jobs, and by educating Jews about poverty and the importance of developing community-based social justice partnerships, the Jewish Fund for Justice brings to life the core Jewish values of tikkun olam and tzedakah.
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is dedicated to improving people’s lives by sharing advances in health and education with the global community: 1) to reduce the disparity in health between the developed and developing world 2) by placing successful educational models in our school systems so all children can achieve at high levels 3) by providing computers and Internet access in libraries so that they may act as gateways to the digital world, especially for users in low-income regions of the country and the world 4) through a broad range of projects that support vulnerable children and families in transition in microsoft’s home region, the pacific northwest
Third Wave Foundation
Young women have always been at the forefront of social justice movements. Yet the work of young women activists has often been ignored by society. The Third Wave Foundation helps support the leadership of young women ages 15 to 30 by providing resources, public education, and relationship-building opportunities.Your name
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My Personal Tzedakah Mission Statement
You can touch on any of the following: * issues I care about most * beliefs about my role in affecting the world *how being a giver shapes me/my identity as Jew or person *texts or ideas that have helped me define my mission *how I set priorities among communities, issues, or organizations *first steps I intend to take
Organizations I am interested in
Things I should get more information about or would like to think more about