A word from our Chair
Tzedek wants to do something of modest proportions and yet of global significance.
All Jews, by virtue of the very concept of ‘Tzedaka’, (clumsily translated as 'charity' but so much more beautifully revealed when you recognise that it's connected to the word Tzedek, meaning 'justice') have a basic responsibility to be fair and act in a just way.
As a Jewish charity we attempt to operate by the highest ideals of Jewish ethics, recognising not only the humanity in all human beings - and therefore their right to equality with us - but also their right to the dignity that we would like ourselves. Firstly, that means recognising that the people with whom we can work are frequently highly resilient and resourceful despite their difficult circumstances. And secondly, we have to admit with admiration that they are almost always better placed to know what would work for them better than we do. We want to listen to our partners and simply help them to help themselves. That, after all, is what Maimonides defined many hundreds of years ago as the highest form of Jewish charity.
So we fund self-help, sustainable, development projects in the developing world. We know there are many other important things to do in our world and in theirs. But we want to focus. We want to be confident that what we do can survive the often turbulent political and economic conditions in which many of the people in the developing world live. We believe this is frequently best done by staying close to the ground, working closely with the right people rather than with big organisations and government departments. (Of course, some of that work is important too - but there are others doing it.)
We also want to inform the Jewish community that while charity begins at home - and it does - it only begins at home. After that, we have the resources to remember many others in need and not just those closest to us.
We also want to inform the Jewish community that while charity begins at home - and it does - it only begins at home. After that, we have the resources to remember many others in need and not just those closest to us.
Our Jewish traditions teach us to see the world globally in ever-widening ripples of responsibility. Our family lies closest to us, our community next, those in our town, then those in towns beyond and so on. But the ripples don't stop rippling at a certain point beyond which we have no responsibility. How can we, as Jews, justify ignoring the crushing need of our fellow human beings, who only need a bit of our spare money or time to enable them to stand on their own two feet?
In its earliest blessing to the Jews, the Torah predicts that we will be blessed and that, through us, all the peoples of the world will be blessed. It is time now to work to make that a reality.
Clive Lawton
Chair of Trustee
