US Chesed
- With the United Synagogue mission of 'Living, Learning and Caring', US Chesed represents the 'Caring' side of the work of the organisation. The US Chesed Department is part of the Community Services Division. It works closely with the Living and Learning department and with Tribe.
- "The world stands on three things: Torah (Jewish learning), Avodah (service of God) and acts of Chesed (loving-kindness)"
With the United Synagogue mission of 'Living, Learning and Caring', US Chesed represents the 'Caring' side of the work of the organisation. The US Chesed Department is part of the Community Services Division. It works closely with the Living and Learning department and with Tribe.
We are told by Shimon the Righteous in Pirkei Avot Chapter 1 verse 2
"The world stands on three things: Torah (Jewish learning) Avodah (service of God) and acts of Chesed (loving kindness)"
Acts of loving kindness (chesed), taught the Sages, are greater even than tzedakah. Tzedakah can be done only towards the poor; but loving kindness can be directed towards the rich and poor alike. Tzedakah is done with money; chesed with time or money. Tzedakah is only for the living; chesed can be shown to the living or the dead.
(Babylonian Talmud, Sukkot, 49b)
US Chesed teaches the Jewish responsibility we have for our fellow human beings, encourages and facilitates more acts of charity and kindness and inspires our community to make a difference.
US Chesed has a range of initiatives and projects which encourage our members to think about others, their communities, and the wider world around them. Our initiatives also educate about the concept and meaning of 'chesed' and work to engage our members in practical chesed projects - in turn making a tangible difference to other people's lives.
US Chesed incorporates US Community Cares, Project Chesed, the US Chesed Bursary Fund, Jewish Hospital Visitation and Jewish Prison Chaplaincy. Please browse the links to the left of the page for more information.
We are always delighted to hear from communities and individuals who would like to be involved with our projects. If you would like more information, would like to volunteer, or discuss running your own chesed initiative, please just be in touch.
At the very beginning it was God who created light, but in the end, it is the light we create in every act of goodness that we do that will make all the difference.
Michelle Minsky - US Head of Chesed
mminsky@theus.org.uk - 020 8343 5688
"The world stands on three things: Torah (Jewish learning), Avodah (service of God) and acts of Chesed (loving-kindness)"
Ethics of the Fathers 1:2
US Chesed is a joint initiative of the United Synagogue Community Division and the London School of Jewish Studies, established to develop social action and charitable projects and implement them across the US community. Based upon the Jewish notion of 'Gemilut Chasidim' which is part of the fabric of the United Synagogue, we educate the Jewish values behind all our projects based on our firm belief that learning should lead to action.
Deeds of lovingkindness [gemilut chasidim], taught the Sages, are greater even than tzedakah. Tzedakah can be done only towards the poor; but lovingkindness can be directed towards the rich and poor alike. Tzedakah is done with money; chesed with time or money. Tzedakah is only for the living; chesed can be shown to the living or the dead.
(Babylonian Talmud, Sukkot, 49b)
US Chesed has a range of initiatives which inspire our members to think about others, their communities, and the wider world around them, educate about the concept and meaning of 'Chesed' and 'Tikkun Olam', and engage our communities and members in practical Chesed projects - in turn making a tangible difference to other people's lives.
The United Synagogue has had a long standing commitment to meeting the welfare needs of its members and carrying out social action in order to contribute to the wider world around us. To date, we've provided thousands of honey cakes at Rosh Hashanah, food parcels at Pesach, and Mishloach Manot on Purim to people in need in our communities. We've also increased the number of blood donors from the Jewish community by 20%, sent hundreds of toys, pairs of spectacles and food items to communities in need around the world, and are acting on our commitment to buy ethically sourced goods and cut our carbon footprint. Please browse the links to the left of the page for more information.
We are always delighted to hear from communities and organisations who would like to be involved with our projects! If you would like to receive US Chesed information and materials, would like to volunteer, or discuss running your own initiative, please just be in touch. At the very beginning it was God who created light, but in the end, it is the light we create in every act of goodness that we do that will make all the difference.
Click here to see the US Chesed Photo Gallery!
US Chesed Team:
Candice Woolfson - US Chesed Director
cwoolfson@theus.org.uk
Dr Raphael Zarum - Chief Executive, London School of Jewish Studies
Rabbi Natan Levy - Rabbinic Expert, LSJS Jewish Responsibility Unit
US Chesed is generously supported by the Dr Benjamin Angel Foundation, a private donor and Pears Foundation. With additional support from ALL ABOARD charity shops and Bank Leumi. US Chesed teaches the Jewish responsibility we have for our fellow human beings, encourages more acts of charity and kindness, and inspires our community to make a difference. US Chesed works in loving memory of Brian Roden z"l and Dr Benjamin Angel z"l.
To visit the LSJS site please click here
To visit Pears Foundation website please click here
To visit the ALL ABOARD charity shops website please click here
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