Ways to Give

The charitable giving of our Jewish community embodies the values and traditions of the Jewish Federation of Reading. It says we will address a broad array of critical issues to see that no Jew in need is ever turned away.
 
It is the focal point of giving which provides the unrestricted funding needed to answer the diverse Jewish needs in the Reading area, Israel, and overseas, and the designated giving that makes connections between our generous community and the programs they connect strongly to.
 
In addition to being our community’s safety net, the Federation supports a wealth of programs that strengthen Jewish identity and guarantee Jewish continuity by pumping much-needed dollars into our local and overseas partner agencies.

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How To Make A Difference

There are many ways to help in our community and around the Jewish world.

Jewish Community Campaign

The core funding we provide to local Jewish agencies supporting kids, seniors and families, as well as Jewish organizations doing vital work in Israel and around the world.

Tribute or Honor Donation to the Federation

Making a donation to the Reading Jewish Federation is a great way to honor a friend or family member, or to memorialize the loss of a loved one.

Women's Philanthropy

We are proud that women take such an active role in making an impact in our communities here in Berks County, in Israel, and around the world. We invite you to become part of a National Giving Society that is meaningful to you.

Endowment Gift

Your legacy gift can ensure that your commitment to Jewish federation and the Jewish people will carry over to the next generation of the Jewish community.

The Highest Form of Charity

 

According to Jewish tradition, the highest form of tzedakah or charity is giving to a central campaign or community fund or kupah.

 

Girl Holding Metal Tzedakah Box Throughout Jewish history, in small towns and large cities, within both Israel and the Diaspora, it was the custom of Jewish communities to create an address for centralized giving. This guaranteed the privacy and dignity of the poor as well as the successful maintenance of communal "agencies." Today, the kupah (literally translated as community fund) is the annual campaign of the Jewish federation.

 

The gift to the communal kupah, or centralized campaign, is a noble expression of devotion to the entire Jewish people. It demonstrates a love of community which is without limitation – a proud statement of commitment to our individual communities and to every individual Jew.

 

There are those who maintain that the most "Jewish" way to give is to bypass the centralized campaign and give directly to those in need. In fact, the Talmud insists that the contribution to the centralized fund is the highest form of tzedakah, for it is the best way of ensuring the anonymity of both donor and recipient. Moreover, the general community fund is best prepared to meet the challenges of emergency issues which require a united front, such as responding to anti-Semitism or organizing rescue missions for Jews in danger.

 

Tzedakah derives from the Hebrew tzedek, denoting justice or righteousness. Tzedakah is based on the sense that justice requires sharing.

 

Jewish Values

 

While a designated gift may satisfy the desires of a particular donor and the recipient agency or cause, it is the gift to the centralized campaign which works towards satisfying the needs of all—transcending specific institutions or projects. The centralized campaign is concerned with the entire community – its continued viability and vibrancy – and the dignity of all of its members, including our brothers and sisters who may live thousands of miles away, but are no less precious to us than those who live next door.

 

Participation in the centralized campaign is a statement about Jewish values. As Jews, we count on the ability of individuals to uplift the entire collectively, and we treasure our historic desire to be full participants in a community's welfare. A donation to the federation annual campaign is an investment by the donor in his or her community; it is a statement by the donor that he or she belongs to the Jewish people.

 

The Annual Campaign embodies the values and traditions of the North American Jewish community more than anything else we do. It says that we care about people, not about their politics or religious practices. It says that we will ­as a community ­address critical, often life-threatening issues.

 

Everything from domestic abuse to public health problems to hunger and disaster relief and more.

 

The impact of the continuing and unparalleled philanthropic success of the annual campaign is priceless. Millions of lives saved, cared for, reached out to and rebuilt; centuries-old Jewish traditions and values preserved for future generations.

 

Based on the thoughts and writings of Arna Poupko Fischer, Judaic Consultant