I was blessed to receive an email from my childhood rabbi whose tzedakah and hesed pursuits help me know that there is blessing and light in our sometimes darkened and shadowy world.
Here's the beginning of what the ABOUT section of his website says:
"Jewish Helping Hands reaches out to needy and vulnerable populations, sponsoring projects that make a difference where help is most needed."
Not only did my rabbi spark me to reach my hand into my tzedakah wallet, but he also inspired the sacred act of studying Torah. This source sheet is a result of reading all about the grantees of the Jewish Helping Hands fund.
May our hands be blessed to further the work of Jewish Helping Hands!
Kol haKavod Rabbi Soffin! Thanks for the inspiration to give, to learn and to make some tikkun happen in the corners of the world that you have granted us access to.
Visit https://jewishhelpinghands.org/about and be inspired by reading the profiles of the grantees and about the founder of this unique organization. Thanks again, Rabbi Soffin! Now, onto some Torah learning for inspiration.
SOURCE 1: What Do We Do With Our Hands, Now That We Are Successful?
(7) Indeed, your God יהוה has blessed you in the work of your hands [all your undertakings.] [God] has watched over your wanderings through this great wilderness; your God יהוה has been with you these past forty years: you have lacked nothing.
In what ways do you feel God has watched over you in "the wilderness of your life?"
Have you ever really lacked something you needed? Who reached out a hand for you?
How could we reach our hands out to be supporters of others' endeavors?
Describe the differences between using our hands to give tzedakah and our hands' roles in learning about important issues and challenges that face our world. How are both "righteous action / tzedakah?"
Source 2: What Ensures the Work of Our Hands Will be Blessed?
(29) Then the [family of the] Levite, who has no hereditary portion as you have, and the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow in your settlements shall come and eat their fill, so that your God יהוה may bless you in all the undertaking of your hands [the enterprises you undertake].
What are some of the wonderful inheritances you enjoy in your life? Do we take them for granted?
Who are we supposed to include in sharing our bounty according to this Torah verse? Who else could we think to include in sharing our portions?
Which project (see the grantees list here: https://jewishhelpinghands.org/grants) speak most to you, in terms of sharing from your resources? Which of the grantees would you like to learn more about?
Source #3: Which is the Jewish Holiday of "The Work of Our Hands?"
(13) After the ingathering from your threshing floor and your vat, you shall hold the Feast of Booths for seven days. (14) You shall rejoice in your festival, with your son and daughter, your male and female slave, the [family of the] Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow in your communities. (15) You shall hold a festival for your God יהוה seven days, in the place that יהוה will choose; for your God יהוה will bless all your crops and all your hands have done and have yet to do [your undertakings], and you shall have nothing but joy.
Which holiday is associated with the biblical phrase "the work of your hands?"
Who is supposed to be included in the holiday celebration the Torah described here?
What does the expanded guest list say about sharing the "work of our hands" and how we think about the role of our hands in supporting others?
What giving in your life gives you the greatest joy?
How might the holiday times in general be linked to tzedakah giving and hesed action (kindness, kind action) that we pursue in our lives?
How do we balance celebrating our holidays with all the wonderful rituals (like in a synagogue, at home, in a sukkah...) and our more universal responsibilities? How does the Jewish calendar inform your volunteer time? And when you contribute tzedakah?
......I learned these Torah sources when I got the update email from Rabbi Soffin about his great hesed work in the world. Then I donated tzedakah having gained inspiration from him, the grantees, and the Torah as our guide.
You can participate, learn and donate, too at: