6 6 My charitable gift annuity

with ORT America provides

TORAH PORTION

me with tixed yearly payments

for life and the personal

satisfaction of knowing that

ORT's educational programs

Giving Back To
The Community

Shabbat Parah (Parshat Ki Tissa):
Exodus 30:11-34:35; Numbers 19:1-22;
Ezekiel 36:16-38.

0

ne of the most meaningful
tzibor" — we must not separate our-
selves from the community. Indeed,
experiences I had in high
we have an eternal responsibility to
school did not take place in
give of ourselves whenever possible.
the classroom, but along the freeway
The Vilna Gaon teaches that one
underpass.
who gives today may have to receive
When I was 16, I was elected presi-
tomorrow. We can relate
dent of the Los Angeles City
to that sentiment perhaps
Youth Advisory Council. As
these days more so than
president, I coordinated the
ever before.
organization of 35 commu-
I am reminded of a pow-
nity sites where citizens of
, erful selection from the
all ages gathered together to
Talmud (Sotah 14a) where
wipe out graffiti throughout
Rabbi Simlai taught that our
the city.
Torah begins with deeds of
This project was an
loving-kindness and ends
incredible experience and a
with deeds of loving-kind-
deeply formative one for me
Rabbi Joseph
ness. It begins with the mitz-
for as I began to understand,
H. Krakoff
vah of clothing the naked as
like never before, the impor-
Special to the
God provides garments of
tance of serving my com-
Jewish News
skins and clothing to Adam
munity both as an American
and Eve. The Torah also con-
citizen and as a Jew.
cludes with a mitzvah, that of burying
Similarly, our parshah this week
our beloved dead, as God buries Moses
addresses the issue of community
in the valley in the land of Moab.
service in a very meaningful way. Until
As God sets the standard from the
now, any contributions that the people
very beginning, so too are we com-
have made to help build the infrastruc-
manded, by our tradition and by our
ture of their community have been
country, to perform community ser-
largely voluntary. But now, as the peo-
vice — deeds of charity and justice,
ple prepare to spend the next 38 years
raising up those who are bowed down,
in the desert, our Torah portion begins
protecting the stranger, supporting the
by requiring a 1/2 shekel donation from
orphan and widow, and frustrating the
every single family, rich or poor.
designs of the wicked.
This week, we read the following
Indeed, actively performing acts of
words from God to Moses: "When you
community service and tikkun olam —
take a census of the Israelite people,
healing the world — are not a choice.
in counting them, each shall pay the
They must be undertaken by everyone,
Lord a ransom for his life ...This is
what they are to give ... a half a shekel in every city and in every state.
And it falls to each of us to become
as a contribution to God. The rich are
role models by seeking out mean-
not to pay more and the poor are not
ingful ways to help our community
to pay less than half a shekel:'
through public service. I am in, and I
These verses of the Torah teach us
hope you are, too!
that our very lives continue to have
meaning through our on-going dona-
Joseph Krakoff is a rabbi at Congregation
tions and contributions of time and
Shaarey Zedek of Oakland County.
money that support and uphold our
community and its institutions. By
What are the charities you
each family reaching into their own
contribute to and why? Where
pockets, despite the current fiscal
do you volunteer your time
climate, we come to better understand
and what do you get out of the
the essential obligation we all have to
experience? If you could create
our fellow human beings.
a new community service orga-
Our sages have taught us through-
nization who would it serve?
out eternity — "al tifrosh min ha

❑

will allow stuk loots to achieve

their dits.iiilz; 135

- (Frac,: .11,-11,14*-.4%.1

Everyone wins with a gift annuity rate
as high as 9.5% from ORT America.

With certificates of deposit and money market accounts averaging low rates
of return, an ORT America charitable gift annuity may help you achieve your
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Call ORT America today to create a charitable gift annuity and lock in attractive
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For our free booklet Create a Legacy of Learning
or to receive a complimentary sample
illustration showing how a gift annuity to
ORT America may benefit you, please contact
Karol Friedman, ORT America Director,
Michigan Region, at 248.723.8860 or
kfriedman@ortamerica.org .

EIRr

AMERICA

ortamerica.org

ORT America charitable gift annuity rates are those currently
recommended by the American Council on Gift Annuities as
of February 1, 2009.

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March 12 • 2009

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