Diaspora Giving to the Homeland

Diasporas 2017: Michael Lawrence, Chief Development Officer & FRD Israel Office Director - The Jewish Agency for Israel – 03/2017

A Homeland-Diaspora Story

Sense of Tradition and Obligation

The Lord spoke to Moses saying: ר ה וידב היהו ר אל־מש אמ :ל

Speak to the children of Israel, and have

them take for Me an offering; from every

person whose heart inspires him to

generosity, you shall take My offering.

~Exodus Chapter 25

ר ל דב א י ישר יאל־בנ ויקחו־ל

ת א ה מ ר כ ל־איש תרומ נו אש ידב

ו ולב י תקח ת ומ :את־תר

And they spoke to Moses, saying: "The

people are bringing very much, more

than is enough for the labor of the

articles which the Lord had commanded

to do."

אמרו ה וי ר אל־מש אמ ים ל מרב

ם ע יא ה ב י לה ה מד עבד ה ה אכ למל

ה ה אשר־צו ת יהו ה לעש :את

So Moses commanded, and they

announced in the camp, saying: "Let no

man or woman do any more work for the

offering for the Holy." So the people

stopped bringing.

~Exodus Chapter 36

ו ה ויצ ירו מש עב ול וי חנה ק במ

אמר יש ל ה א עשו־עוד ואש אל־י

ה אכ ת מל דש לתרומ א הק ויכ ל

ם ע ביא ה ה :מ

Sense of Tradition and Obligation

There are eight levels of charity, each greater than the next.

1. A gift or loan, or entering into a partnership.

2. Give to the poor without knowing to whom one gives, and without the recipient knowing from who

he received.

3. One knows to whom one gives, but the recipient does not know his benefactor.

4. One does not know to whom one gives, but the poor

person does know his benefactor.

5. One gives to the poor person directly into his hand,

but gives before being asked.

6. One gives to the poor person after being asked.

7. One gives inadequately, but gives gladly and with

a smile.

8. One gives unwillingly.

~Maimonides’ Eight Levels of Charity

Mishneh Torah, Laws of Charity, 10:7–14

Sense of Urgency

Ethiopian Aliyah

Yemenite Aliyah

Sense of Urgency

Rocket Fire 2014

Wild Fires 2016

Sense of Mission: Strengthening Israelis, Connection & Diaspora Communities

A Framework for Harnessing Diaspora Charity

1. Local Development Officer

2. Community and Education Emissaries

3. Enrichment Opportunities – Speakers, VIP Guests, Missions

4. Support Team – Grant Writing, Marketing, Donor Management

Diaspora Giving to the Homeland