Tzedakah (Charity) in Israel

A 15 hour work day

Posted by admin under Disposable Income, Divorce, Getting By In Israel, Social Justice, Unemployment

Around the Clock

A friend was just asked: “Do you work 15 hours a day in order to avoid being home with your wife?” That very loaded question obviously comes with a lot of background. To be more specific, PAINFUL background. A background that is full of family strife on the verge of divorce.

My friend’s answer though had less to do with domestic issues than with his struggle to make a living in Israel. His 50 shekel an hour job is hardly enough to pay the bills for his household of 9.

The most frustrating part though is not the financial one but the emotional one within the family about his time at home, his ability to focus on other issues besides trying to make a living etc.

Not an easy situation at all.

Myopia

Posted by admin under Disposable Income, Perspective, Poverty in Israel, Social Justice

Double Vision

A friend was visiting the city of Beitar Eilit. He stayed for Shabbat and had a wonderful time. Stayed with friends who live in what are called the “vilot”, basically semidetached or detached homes. (A semi-detached home is Israel is pretty much for the rich). When he came back he told me all about his stay there. All the wonderful neighbors, the car per family, the spacious living and dining room and of course the second floor bedrooms. All a big deal in Israel.

When it was my turn to speak I asked him if he could tell that there was poverty, better yet, rampant poverty in Beitar. He thought I was nuts. How could it be after all he saw? I must be uber-exaggerating when I say that over 40% of Beitar Eilit lives in poverty.

It then became clear that he did not wander off very far from the “vilot” and thus did not see the much higher density areas where it is not uncommon that kids sleep inthe living room for lack of space, or for kids to go to shul (synagogue) with dirty, unkempt and un-ironed clothes et-al.

The problem is, his myopia is not his alone. There are many many who do not realize how widespread poverty is in Israel.

The Haves and Have-Nots

Posted by admin under Disposable Income, Getting By In Israel, Poverty in Israel, Social Justice, Solutions to Poverty, Unemployment, What can THEY do

Rich Man - Poor Man

This great interview with Joseph Gitler brings up many issues. One major issue in the poverty struggle is the growing gap between those in Israel who “have” and those that do not. The ramifications of this are that many are left behind in their ability find gainful employment (an issue in and of itself), to gain access to higher education, and more. See the article here.

U.S. Child poverty rate nearing 22%

Posted by admin under Child Poverty, Children, Getting By In Israel, Perspective, Poverty in Israel, Social Justice, Tzedakah, Unemployment, World Poverty

Here in Israel we see alarming rates of child poverty of 25%. This sounds like a huge number, which it is. This is what perhaps makes a recent report from USA Today even more alarming.

WHY THE ALARM? Well, when we (the Israelis) were in it alone we could think of us “poor Israelis” (pardon the pun) and how much better off our US brothers and sisters are. We, on the poverty battle front, could also think the the problem of poverty, win global village terms, is an isolated one, in “The West” at least.

These thoughts however, if the report is even remotely accurate, are now out of place. Besides that fact the the Halacha (Jewish Torah Law) states that the poor that are closest to you take precedence, the practical ramifications of this loom quite large. To name just one issue, if 22% of US children need financial assistance, can the US donor be expected to send his tzedakah our way? Also, what of theories of improving the economic environment in Israel as part of teh solution to poverty in Isreal? If the US’s world leading economy allows for such high child poverty rates, what can truly be done in Israel.

THE ANSWER? SOMETHING!! Just like we were able to, and continue to build a country from scratch with all ist current sign of success, in such  short period, surely something as relatively easy as eliminating povety can also be done.

Rav Mordechai Eliyahu - One Nation

Posted by admin under Perspective, Social Justice, Solutions to Poverty, Torah, What can "I" do

Rav Mordechai Eliyahu

The most central message at this week’s funeral of one of the Jewish People’s Torah giants was that of Achdut (unity). Speaker after speaker reminded the over 100,000 present that the Rav was uniue in that everyone, yes EVERYONE could be seen in his shul (synagogue), Yeshiva and office. All of israel, and even non-israel sought out his wisdom.

More importantly, his personal example on this “front” (what an ironinc word for this subject) of bringing the Jewish People together is one that must not be ignored.

WHEN IT COMES TO POVERTY, this message if vital. And I admiit that I too am guilty of this. It seems that many times my days “carry on” while so many suffer. If we would just take the approach that all people must be united in the struggle against poverty, and live by that vision, poverty would certainly be done away with.

Poverty? What Poverty

Posted by admin under Disposable Income, Getting By In Israel, Poverty in Israel, Social Justice

My laptop is down for a couple weeks. Some hard-drive problem. Thank G-D its still under warrenty. So, for a lack of a place to work I headed off to the Aroma Cafe to use their free netbooks while sipping ice-coffee. While getting some work done I came to realize that were are many other people there that were there simply to have a bite, meet a friend, relax, whatever.

AT 17 SHEKELS a cup it dawned on me that not all israelis are in poverty. Yes, the current word on that is that 25% of Israelis are in poverty. Many many more are not however. There are plenty of people who have the cash to relax, to relieve stress, to just get out.

For some, this is a choice. That is, they work hard, or perhaps even work smart, and of course, spend smart, and thus avoid debt and avoid poverty.

THE CHALLENGE for us all is, how do we make it so that everyone can “Have Their Cake and Eat it Too!?

Is poverty a “Human Rights” issue?

Posted by admin under Child Poverty, Social Justice, Solutions to Poverty, Tzedakah, What can "I" do, What can THEY do, World Poverty

Human Rights

I believe that freedom from poverty is a human right.
I believe in equality among all people.
I believe we are all entitled to social and economic security.
I believe in dignity for all.
NOW is the time to end poverty in Canada
These words from http://www.dignityforall.ca/ say it all. Just change the final word to Israel and we are right on target to Karmey Hesed’s Vision. Poverty is a matter for all of society, government, NGOs, Neighbors and individuals alike.