Detailing Allocations and Activities from
January 1-December 31, 2023
8914 Farnam Court • Omaha, Nebraska • 68114-4076
[email protected] • www.kavod.org

SUMMARY OF KAVOD’S FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
2023 Allocations:  $85,680.00
Total allocations to date (’93-’23): $1,812,681.15
Expenses to date: $75.48

Achvah is an activist organization that supports and raises awareness about the Abayudaya Jewish community in Uganda, especially as they fight for full recognition by the State of Israel as a world Jewish community. Our donation specifically went to create and promote a special online concert at Passover that put the musicians of the Abayudaya center-stage, joyfully celebrating Jewish life and sharing it with a worldwide community.

After October 7 and the subsequent war in Gaza, the members of the Abayudaya community grieved just as Jews did everywhere. And the Passover concert reflected this. If you haven’t seen the climax of the concert, an incredible original song called “Bring Them Home (We Miss Them),” check it out right now on YouTube at this link. It is incredible.

To learn more, visit: https://www.achvah.org/

“For every person there is a place.” Beit Uri in Afula, Israel is home to 100 residents, ages 7-67, who live with a variety of physical and developmental needs. In recent years, especially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Beit Uri has been focusing on making their outdoor spaces completely accessible for all residents (and their visiting families) as well as providing outdoor classrooms, including spaces for music classes with outdoor instruments for musicians of all abilities. The community that they have built in Afula is dignified, compassionate, and full of light.

www.bet-uri.org.il
Beit Uri
4 Rehov Tzukit, Afula, Israel
Jeanette Koll, Resource Development

BirdieLight was born out of tragedy—the accidental death by fentanyl overdose of Eli Weinstock, an undergraduate student at American University. Founded by Eli’s mother Dr. Beth Weinstock and his sister Olivia Weinstock, BirdieLight’s mission is to educate young people about the dangers of fentanyl and to deliver tools such as test strips and Narcan training where they are needed most. Fentanyl is the leading cause of preventable deaths for Americans age 18-45, and we are honored to support BirdieLight’s life-saving work in Eli’s memory. In addition to our Tzedakah, we encourage universities, religious organizations, youth groups, et al, to access the resources BirdieLight provides and to bring Beth to local communities to share her story and her message. 

To learn more, visit https://www.birdielight.org/

Leket—the Biblical injunction to rescue the gleanings of a harvest and distribute them to people in need—is happening in Massachusetts. Boston Area Gleaners supports an equitable, just, and sustainable local food system. By working closely with local farmers, volunteers, and hunger relief agencies, they power a supply chain from farms to those in need, reduce food waste, and promote long-term farm sustainability. With their teams of volunteers and partners, they have been able to rescue over one million pounds of produce annually and deliver it directly to hundreds of hunger relief organizations in New England.

www.bostonareagleaners.org
Boston Area Gleaners
240 Beaver Street, Waltham, MA  02452
Paul Franceschi, Development & Outreach Coordinator

Rabbi Haim Beliak has been a tireless promoter of Beit Polska, the Reform Jewish community in Warsaw. Now they are on the frontlines of a lot of the work with Ukrainian refugees, so it was natural for us to support their mobilization to support the people flooding into Poland. Among many other tasks, they have been supporting Ukrainian-speaking staff such as social workers, psychologists, and specialists for working with children with disabilities (such as autistic children who are among the refugees). They have also been supplying and distributing food, medicine, thermal blankets, and other essential items.

www.jewishrenewalinpoland.com
Friends of Jewish Renewal in Poland
Rabbi Haim Dov Beliak
P.O. Box 5438
Beverly Hills, CA 90209

Our friend Rabbi Edgar Nof performs an astonishing array of Mitzvot in Israel on just about a daily basis. His organization Gesharim Letikvah/Bridges for Hope works with impoverished families, kids with disabilities, new immigrants, elders, and many more people on the periphery of Israel’s social and religious communities, including Ethiopian and Russian olim. Since October 7, 2023, Rabbi Nof’s focus has been on providing support for families and individuals impacted by the terror attacks, dislocation, and war.

https://www.facebook.com/GesharimLeTikvah.Bridgesforhope/  
Gesharim Letikvah
44 Rehov Leon Blum, #20, Haifa, Israel
Rabbi Edgar Nof

We were honored to help support an individual soldier who was badly wounded on October 7. On top of his injury and rehabilitation, his family was experiencing various health setbacks that made regular employment impossible. KAVOD donors stepped up to help the family in its time of need. We are pleased to report that he has returned home and continues to heal both physically and emotionally as well.

Through a dear friend in Israel we were able to help provide direct assistance for families who were forced to flee their homes due to rocket fire from Gaza and Lebanon. Our gifts helped provide housing subsidies as well as supplies for families in need including toiletries and clothing.

Naomi Eisenberger has been among our primary role models for our style of grassroots Tzedakah work since we created Kavod. Since establishing The Good People Fund in 2008, Naomi’s leadership has been the absolute exemplar grassroots Tikkun Olam. In a time of crisis, she is often our first phone call or email for advice about how to efficiently get Tzedakah into the hands of people who will make a difference. The Good People Fund lifts up great organizations by making their work more visible. Not only do they provide essential tzedakah, they also make connections to an international network of people who can provide needed funding and supplies in a cost-effective and meaningful way. They have been a conduit for us to several of our Mitzvah projects, but it is also our great privilege to support their work broadly as well. 

www.goodpeoplefund.org
The Good People Fund
384 Wyoming Avenue, Millburn, NJ 07041
Naomi Eisenberger, Executive Director

New York’s Hebrew Free Loan Society was founded by leaders of the Jewish immigrant community in 1892. A perfect illustration of Maimonides’s highest level of Tzedakah, HFLS is supporting people in need in a wide variety of ways: education bills, health care, housing, starting new businesses and vocational training, recovering from the financial impact of Covid, and much more. As loans are repaid – their repayment rate is 99.9%! – the money is “recycled” to help others navigate financial emergencies and land on their feet.

To learn more, visit https://hfls.org/

Israel’s Declaration of Independence promised religious freedom and equality to all of its citizens. Hiddush, a non-denominational, non-partisan organization, was established by our Zionist hero Rabbi Uri Regev to pursue the promise of Israel as a democracy and as a Jewish state. Hiddush is on the frontlines of the perpetual fight for religious freedom and civil liberties in Israel. They commission studies of Israeli society (including their Annual Israel Religion & State Index), providing crucial data for policymakers; advocate tirelessly for civil rights throughout Israeli society; provide legal defense for victims of religious discrimination; and host powerful and informative education programs and webinars.

Hiddush: For Religious Freedom and Equality
24 Rehov HaOman, Jerusalem
Rabbi Uri Regev

https://hiddush.org/Default.aspx

The students and community members of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York go the extra mile not only to nourish hundreds of weekly guests physically, but also to nourish their sense of kavod. They provide food as well as a dynamic, welcoming community environment. HUC partners with law students from NYU as well as volunteers from local high schools and colleges in order to create an atmosphere that is joyful, uplifting, and empowering. And they have adapted admirably during the Covid pandemic, to make sure that hundreds of New Yorkers continue to be fed.

HUC-JIR Soup Kitchen
Brookdale Center, One West 4th Street, New York, NY 10012
huc.edu/campus-life/new-york/soup-kitchen

For more than 30 years we have admired the work of the Israel Religious Action Center, as they have been one of the most prominent, effective, and public voices of justice, egalitarianism, and civil liberties in Israel. Now, in the wake of a devastating Israeli national election that puts religious freedom in serious jeopardy, we’ve collectively made a commitment to IRAC that many of Kavod’s individual board members already have embraced. They are our crucial voice against religious extremism, racist ideology, and fundamentalist thuggery. We are so grateful for their tireless voice—on behalf of all of us.

To learn more, visit https://www.irac.org/support-irac-usa

The Jewish Community Center in Krakow has been a key focal point of the renewal of Jewish life in Poland. They have completely mobilized on behalf of Ukrainian refugees pouring into Poland, providing food, medicine, hygienic supplies, clothing, and toys for children. They have also been housing refugee families, including creating safe spaces for mothers and children and providing daycare and preschool, Polish and English classes, psychological counseling, and job training. It is all very inspiring, amidst the tragedy, to see the work that the Jewish community is doing on behalf of all the refugees, Jews and non-Jews alike.

www.friendsofjcckrakow.org
Friends of JCC Krakow
Jonathan Ornstein, Executive Director
74 Lafayette Avenue, Suite 101
Suffern, NY 10901

The JRCC, in memory of Linda Feldman, is another Kavod project that we have been involved with since our inception. Through the empowerment of women from all backgrounds, they provide a myriad of support and services to survivors of sexual assault. They run a 24-hour hotline, conduct workshops and support groups, provide accompaniment to legal proceedings, and conduct educational programs for Israeli high school students to raise  awareness about abuse and harassment.

Jerusalem Rape Crisis Center
PO Box 7815, Jerusalem, Israel
Naomi Grossman, Resource Development Coordinator

https://www.jrcc1202.org/

Rabbi Joel Soffin’s foundation Jewish Helping Hands provides ground-level financial and hands-on support to projects in Africa, Israel, and the United States to meet the basic necessities of a decent life. In each community where JHH works, local residents determine what would be most helpful. JHH works by supporting projects that make a tangible, substantial difference in the lives of people in need. These projects are accomplished with resources—both human and financial—that can be mustered realistically with a minimum of bureaucracy and red tape. Kavod has been privileged in the past to support JHH directly, and to partner with them on special projects.

Jewish Helping Hands
90 Riverside Drive, Apt. 4C, New York, NY 10024
Rabbi Joel E. Soffin, Founder and President

https://jewishhelpinghands.org/

Kuchinate, the African Refugee Women’s Collective, is an Israeli, women-led non-profit that provides psychological and social support for female asylum seekers – women who have fled Darfur or Eritrea and live among the African community in Tel Aviv. These women face oppression and disenfranchisement from the Israeli government, which considers the asylum seekers to be illegal residents. Kuchinate is a collective that trains them to produce crafts as well as to acquire management skills. The organization also provides therapy and a family-like supportive environment for them to cope with trauma, past and present. Our contribution has been directed through the Good People Fund.

Kuchinate
104 Sderot Har Tziyon, Tel Aviv
Orli Fridkes, Operations Manager

https://www.kuchinate.com/

Like so many people around the U.S., we were appalled in 2022 when the Supreme Court voted to overturn Roe v. Wade and a generation of precedents protecting women’s reproductive freedoms. Immediately we started looking for projects that would protect abortion rights and where our support would make a serious difference. We were drawn to The Lilith Fund, based out of Austin, TX, because of their inherent compassion and their effectiveness on many different levels. Their mission is to both financially and emotionally support people who need abortions in Texas, “unapologetically, with compassion and conviction.” Beyond that, they also are fighting the good fight for reproductive justice in the courts and through community organizing. This is the essence of Kavod-as-human dignity, and we are privileged to support them, even as we are saddened to still be fighting these battles in 2022.

www.lilithfund.org
The Lilith Fund
Neesha Davé, Deputy Director
P.O Box 684949
Austin, TX 78768

Since 1972, Project Ezra has supported Jewish elders on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, providing companionship and community and enabling them to live with dignity with a myriad of programs and services. Especially during the Covid crisis, we are proud to support Project Ezra as they create community that keeps these elders safe and connected.

Project Ezra
387 Grand Street, New York, NY 10002
Justine Fisher, President

https://projectezra.org/

Kavod Board member Rabbi Jay Moses brought this inspirational project to our attention. Restore Elikia is the vision of Nicole and Will O’Brien, two extraordinary people whose deep faith inspired them to build better lives for the women and orphans of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The DRC has an estimated 5 million orphans, who are at serious risk of becoming the victims of sexual violence, child trafficking, or becoming child soldiers. Restore Elikia seeks to transform lives by partnering with local leaders to develop stabilizing and safe institutions. We’ve been watching the evolution of the medical clinic and school that they are building, and it is simply astonishing. Our donation helps the construction of these projects, as well as job training, parenting education, providing food necessities, and other sorts of community development.

Restore Elikia
71 S. Merkle Road, Bexley, OH 43209
Nicole & Will O’Brien, Founders

http://www.restoreelikia.org/

A new Kavod project in 2021, Shelter Music Boston performs classical music concerts and cultural events in shelters and organizations that serve individuals who are homeless or in recovery. Just consider: For a homeless or recovering person, an interactive, dignified concert can deliver the therapeutic power of classical music and provide hope, self-worth, and renewed energy to address the challenges of dependency. Their performances are truly inspiring. In 2019 they performed a chamber opera called “Florence Comes Home,” celebrating 20th Century African American composer Florence Beatrice Price, who wrote more than 300 works and was the first woman to have a symphony performed by a major American orchestra. In 2022, they will be presenting a new initiative with three Boston-based African-American poets, pairing them with local African-American classical musicians, to create a program that will increase the representation of what classical music can be. By all means, check out their YouTube site and see their amazing performances – the very essence of what kavod is all about.

Shelter Music Boston
1337 Massachusetts Avenue #116, Arlington, MA 02476
Erin Merceruio Nelson, Director of Development & Operations

https://www.sheltermusicboston.org/

Tevel B’Tzedek is an Israeli NGO that is developing young Jewish leadership that is passionately engaged in Tikkun Olam, locally and globally. Drawing young volunteers from Israel and North America, Tevel has developed a unique community development model (think: “Peace Corps,” but under Jewish auspices and with Torah-values front and center), working with impoverished communities in Nepal to provide sufficient nutrition, clean water, housing, and basic health and education. They are the experts on the ground doing the work of community development and Founding Director Rabbi Micha Odenheimer is a Mitzvah Hero par excellence, as well as a zealous advocate for social and climate justice in Israel and around the world. We are proud to support their work—and encourage those in their 20s and 30s in Kavod’s audience to explore volunteer opportunities with Tevel in Nepal.

Tevel b’Tzedek
PO Box 20110, Tel Aviv, Israel
Yonatan Bram, Director

https://tevelbtzedek.org/

Yad Elie is alleviating food insecurity by providing school meals to hungry students in both East and West Jerusalem and by promoting nutrition education in some of the poorest parts of the city. Currently, they work with 12 different programs across the city. We partnered with our friends at Jewish Helping Hands to help Yad Elie provide food and tutoring in Jerusalem for all children in need—with a special eye on their outreach to Ethiopian-Israeli children.

Yad Eli
Rehov Meir Nakar 27/2, Jerusalem
https://yadelie.org/