Social Action Fund General Information

 As has been done for many years, the social action committee distributed its Yom Kippur Appeal funds earlier this year. Thank you again for all who contributed. The committee distributed $78,500, as follows:

Canada

First Interfaith Out of the Cold, a program that provides services for street-involved people in Toronto.

Kehilla, which champions affordable housing initiatives for the Jewish community in the Greater Toronto Area.

Jewish Community School, which offers supplementary Jewish and Hebrew education.

Jewish Family and Child Service, a multi-service agency that responds to poverty, child protection matters and more.

Jewish Free Loan Toronto, a micro-financing organization that provides interest-free loans to members of the Jewish community in need.

Makom Afterschool, which includes a Hebrew immersion and Jewish studies program for children in junior kindergarten through Grade 4 as well as Hebrew learning and B’nai Mitzvah programming for those in grades 5 through 8.

Ve’ahavta, which runs programs responding to poverty and hardship, including responding to the needs of street-involved people via a van that provides food and harm reduction supplies.

Israel

Dead Sea and Arava Science Centre, which operates along the Dead Sea and Arava Valley and engages in such activities as (i) applied research focussed on sustainable development; (ii) cross-border (Jordan) scientific cooperation; and (iii) scientific literacy programming for local adult and youth populations.

Eretz-Ir, which is dedicated to creating cities with involved residents who take personal and collective responsibility for creating solutions to local challenges. Among other activities, the organization supports vocational training for equity-seeking populations.

Freddie Krivine Initiative, whose mission is to enhance and strengthen the values of education, social inclusion, and determination, and to provide the best possible level of fitness for Arab youth in Israel utilizing the sport of tennis.

Friends of Arava Institute, which supports the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies. The institute, whose student body is comprised of approximately one-third Jewish Israeli, one-third Arab (including Palestinian, Jordanian and Israeli Arab), and one-third international students, is committed to a peaceful and sustainable Israel and Middle East.

House of Wheels, which aims to assist with the full integration of people with physical disabilities.

Itworks, which works to narrow employment and income gaps among communities/genders and promote diversity in Israel’s high-tech industry.

Krembo Wings, which provides recreational opportunities for children and youth living with disabilities.

Kvutzat Reut-Beit Yisrael, an urban kibbutz located in public housing in Jerusalem that includes 90 families and focuses on building a just and pluralistic society.

Leket, Israel’s largest national food bank and food rescue network.

Merchavim, which is dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion in schools.

Peace Players, an international organization that offers sport, peace education and leadership development programming to youth living in communities in conflict. The Israeli program, which takes place in the Jerusalem Area as well as central and northern Israel, uses basketball to bridge divides, change perceptions and develop leaders among Jewish and Palestinian young people.