JVN Blog

A Familiar Refrain…

The awe inspiring prayer Unetaneh Tokef, questioning who will live and who will die, is a most familiar refrain for Rosh Hashanah. The prayer repeatedly states that G-d has inscribed a judgment against all who have sinned, but teshuvah (repentance), tefillah (prayer) and tzedakah can alleviate the decree. None of these elements work alone; it is the interlocking of the three acts that can grant us forgiveness.

Tzedakah is the Hebrew word commonly used to mean charity. However, it has a different meaning from

the English understanding of charity: giving aid, assistance and money to the needy. The word “charity” suggests benevolence and generosity, a magnanimous act by the wealthy and powerful for the benefit of the poor and needy. However, the word tzedakah is derived from the Hebrew word for righteousness. Therefore, giving to the poor is not only an act of generosity, but one of justice and righteousness.

Charity is an almost instinctive Jewish response to express thanks to G-d, to ask for forgiveness or favour. According to Jewish tradition, the spiritual benefit of giving to the poor is so great that the recipient actually does the giver a favour by allowing them the opportunity to perform tzedakah.

Tzedkah today is not just about giving money. It’s about giving resources and time. In the Jewish community we give our time by volunteering. The charity sector, as well as synagogues and Jewish institutions, are dependent on the time given by thousands of volunteers. The coming year provides an opportunity to consider how we spend our time.

The Jewish Volunteering Network (JVN) is one charity amongst over 2500 in the Jewish community. The charity sector supports the needs of the young and the elderly, the disadvantaged and the vulnerable. By connecting thousands of potential volunteers to over 300 charities JVN provides an essential link.

Although Rosh Hashanah is not generally associated with volunteering, it is about a core element of Jewish belief, giving. Be it money, time, or resources, giving is a recurring part of the Jewish calendar. From misloach manot on Purim to accepting guests on Sukkot, at every time of year we are expected to give something of ourselves to those around us, and Rosh Hashanah is no different. It is the time of year where we can resolve to commit more to helping and improving the lives of others.