agency highlight
So when it came to raising awareness about the work of Memphis Jewish Federation (MJF), instead of thinking ‘out of the box’ for a change, board member Marlene Gerson decided it was time to think ‘in the box’ again. Thus the Tzedakah Project was born.
Since then, Marlene, co-chairs, Diane Mendelson, Tracey Mendelson and MJF staff have been traveling around the city to Jewish organizations to help educate people of all ages about the work of the Memphis Jewish Federation and how donated money is spent.
Agencies, religious schools, day schools, senior living facilities and other groups are being asked to decorate a Tzedakah (charity) box and make it their own with agency stickers, Israeli Flags and other fun adornments. Some have been making it a collaborative effort.
“The kindergarten class at the Memphis Jewish Community Center worked with a senior group to decorate their boxes,” said Diane.
As Diane and Marlene talk to students and relate stories about needy people in Memphis and around the world, special things are taking place.
“At one of the day schools, I mentioned a family who needed money to help pay their rent,” recalls Diane. “They also needed a refrigerator. The next day I received a call from a teacher who said she had a refrigerator in her garage that she would like to donate.”
It was important to the committee that young people be involved with and learn more about how the Federation helps others. They were delighted with the response from Temple Israel Religious School.
“Each Sunday we collect tzedakah that goes into a general tzedakah fund,” said Temple Israel Education Director Barb Gelb. “Every year we pick one organization or cause as the major recipient where over half of the money goes. The rest of it will go to a few places we support every year, including St. Jude, Special Olympics and a few other places that might come to use with needs. Our kick off this year was called "Think Inside the Box" and we spoke about the need for Jewish people to support the Jewish community. The teachers learned about the Federation system and heard about the needs of Jews in Memphis, Israel and all over the world. They shared this information with their students, and each student made a box to take home to collect tzedakah and bring to the Federation's Super Sunday event. Each class also has a box they use each week to collect tzedakah.”
Spokespeople also talked to the groups about The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), which delivers food boxes to needy people overseas. Throughout the year, Federation also sent fliers to the groups, which talked about a particular recipient agency and a list of its current needs.
MJF encourages participants, young and old, to collect tzedakah in their box from now until Super Sunday on Feb. 7, 2010, to be held at the Memphis JCC. Participants are asked to bring the money they have collected over the past six months and "allocate" their funds to two or more agencies of their choice.
The Memphis Jewish Federation’s Annual Community Campaign provides support for our local Jewish Communal Agencies as well as in Israel and approximately 60 other countries around the world. In addition, MJF provides educational programs to raise consciousness of humanitarian concerns and advocacy for Israel.
Tzedakah, a Hebrew word commonly translated as charity, is based on a root meaning justice (tzedek). In Judaism, Tzedakah refers to the religious obligation to perform charity and philanthropic acts, which Judaism emphasizes, are important parts of living a spiritual life. The idea behind the boxes is to help everyone understand the importance of community-wide support and a collective responsibility.
