Learning to be Jewish Givers

Solu believes entering Jewish adulthood requires learning how to be a Jewish giver. In spring 2023, nine students of bar and bat mitzvah age immersed themselves in the world of tzedaka through the Solu Young Leaders Tzedaka Circle: studying halachic sources on tzedaka, debating how to allocate scarce resources fairly, and choosing carefully where to donate $1000. In addition to the $1000 supplied by Solu, the students pooled $117 of their own money.

The Causes They Supported

Learn about the causes they've chosen, and consider donating yourself:

  • The Night Ministry - to help people struggling with homelessness, who are some of their most vulnerable neighbors

  • NAMI Chicago - to address bullying and mental health, issues important to them

  • Lema'an Achai - to help their low income brethren in Israel

  • Skokie Park District - to help their closest neighbors enjoy the outdoors

Watch their presentation to find out how they reached their decisions.

The Children of Avraham

In one of the sources we studied, Rambam highlights the extraordinary importance of tzedaka:

Mishneh Torah, Matanot Aniyim 10:1

חַיָּבִין אָנוּ לְהִזָּהֵר בְּמִצְוַת צְדָקָה יוֹתֵר מִכָּל מִצְוֹת עֲשֵׂה. שֶׁהַצְּדָקָה סִימָן לַצַּדִּיק זֶרַע אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר

(בראשית יח:יט) "כִּי יְדַעְתִּיו לְמַעַן אֲשֶׁר יְצַוֶּה אֶת בָּנָיו לַעֲשׂוֹת צְדָקָה"

"We must be careful about the mitzvah of tzedakah to a greater extent than all other positive mitzvot -- because tzedakah is an identifying mark for a righteous person, the children of Avraham, our father, as it states: "For I know, that [Avraham] will instruct his children…to perform tzedakah."

Over several months, out student leaders devoted their time -- and money -- to understand the halachot and values of tzedaka. They learned how to be careful in performing this defining mitzvah. In doing so, they showed themselves to be true spiritual descendants of Avraham Avinu, ambassadors of his legacy of chesed. May they continue to give and grow as Jewish adults.

Yasher koach to Ari Amrani, Eli Amrani, Noah Anderson, Orly Brown, Ariella Glassenberg, Shaya Goldstein, Maydon Mosbacher, Nathan Oler, and Hava Rubin! Tizku l'mitzvot!