The Burden of Being Jewish

Like most of you, I receive several worthy solicitations each day seeking my support for a vast array of causes ranging from research for disease prevention, to responding to hunger and homelessness, to the protection of animal, human, civil or religious rights. Deciding which organizations to support can be overwhelming.

From a Jewish perspective, most of the causes we are called to support justify a response. Healing the sick, feeding the hungry, caring for animals, and protecting the stranger are all Jewish religious obligations.

Every one of us has limitations on the funds we can contribute. While each of us has our individual philanthropic passions and personal histories that drive us to advocate for an agency, there are times when we are moved to write a check for something new. When a neighbor asks us to support a cause close to his heart, when a family member confronts a disease that leaves us feeling helpless, when a tragedy strikes someone across the city, country or world and we yearn to do something to show we care — we are moved to give.

Being Jewish places additional demands upon us, especially here in Charlotte. We are repeatedly asked to share our financial resources with the Jewish community. Most every request is valid. Our Talmud teaches us “Kol Yisrael aravim zeh b'zeh — all of Israel is responsible for one another.” We have responsibilities not only to the hungry and needy here in Charlotte but to the destitute in Eastern Europe and to the disadvantaged in Israel. The best way to fulfill our obligation to those Jews in our community and across the world who are in need is to write a check to our Federation. No matter how small our donation, our simple contribution says we care about those who are part of the greater community of the Jewish people — of which we are also a part.

When it comes to distributing the funds raised, the Federation deliberates carefully before making decisions and their allocations committee is made up a cross section of the community. While our Temple does receive a significant subsidy from the Federation to assist with rent and to support our Preschool and Hebrew High School, our tzedakah should be given and driven not with concern about what funds come back to support our own projects, but with concern about what money goes to support those Jews who are truly in economic need in Charlotte and around the world.

Judy Schindler
Rabbi