Menu

B'nai Tzedek Changemakers Making a Local Impact with Your Campaign Dollars

By Dara Kaufman / Executive Director, Jewish Federation of the Berkshires

On May 18, I had the privilege of joining the inspiring teen participants of the Berkshire B’nai Tzedek Youth Foundation as they presented a grant from Jewish Federation of the Berkshires to the Berkshire Immigrant Center. This moving moment was the culmination of weeks of dedicated work by these young leaders as part of a biannual youth philanthropy initiative created by the Federation and implemented in partnership with Hevreh of Southern Berkshire.

Guided by Rabbi Jodi Gordon, the students explored the Jewish values of tzedakah and communal responsibility, while gaining a deeper understanding of the vital role nonprofits play in creating meaningful social change. Through the program, they developed a mission statement, researched local organizations, issued a request for proposals, and engaged in a thoughtful, consensus-driven process to determine how best to allocate $3,000 in community funds provided from Federation’s annual campaign.

In their request for proposals, the teens identified their priorities:

We believe in the Jewish values of B’Tzelem Elohim, which reminds us that each and every human being is created in the Divine Image, and Lo Ta’amod Al Dam Re’echa, which tells us not to stand idly by while our neighbor suffers.

We are living through a time when many people’s rights are under attack. Our understanding of these Jewish values directs us to state clearly that we believe in:

  • Reproductive justice and the right to bodily autonomy
  • LGBTQIA+ Rights and we affirm our love and support for trans people
  • Public Education and the need to support young people
  • Gun violence prevention
  • Preventing discrimination of any kind
  • Affordable housing
  • Food security
  • Healthcare access
  • Immigration rights and preventing discrimination based on immigration status
  • Substance abuse awareness and support
  • Education about bullying and domestic violence

The mission of the Berkshire B’nai Tzedek Youth Philanthropy Program is to support the dignity of human beings and to be upstanders by funding organizations and projects that address the issues above.

This year’s cohort of changemakers included: Lev Dresner, Lila Flax, Mollye Goldstein, Noa Honig-Briggs, Noah Minkoff, Jonah Sanabria, Boaz Slater Lee, and Shiva Tantri. Their dedication, insight, and compassion are a powerful testament to the future of Jewish leadership in the Berkshires and beyond.

At the final presentation, a number of students shared remarks, a few of which are highlighted below:

Mollye Goldstein

When I found out our class got to participate in this program, I was so excited. It sounded like such an amazing opportunity — and it was. I learned about how to reach a consensus, how to make important decisions in a large group, and how to think critically about tzedakah.

Earlier this year, we talked about what it means to be a Jewish teenager in America. Something that I think is part of the Jewish teen experience is feeling a need to stand up for what you think is right. So, when deciding where to donate, it makes sense that we chose the Berkshire Immigrant Center. In our country right now, immigration is one of, if not the, most prominent issues. As ICE begins to move into the Berkshires, it is paramount that we pay attention to this.

I am so grateful for all the work the Berkshire Immigrant Center does and that we can help to support it. When I think of this project overall, I think of the Jewish value tikkun olam — making the world a better place. This is truly what the Berkshire Immigrant Center does — well, making the Berkshires a better place, I guess.

In conclusion, this whole experience has been so amazing, and I just wanted to take a minute to thank Rabbi Gordon. (To Rabbi Gordon) You have been such a patient and fun teacher; I am so grateful for getting to learn from you. I also wanted to thank the Jewish Federation for giving us this opportunity. Thank you for all you do. Finally, thank you all so much for being here to celebrate with us.

Lev Dresner

Throughout this philanthropic venture, I’ve learned many a thing — that it’s strenuous, rewarding, and shouldn’t be done in groups. Being a philanthropist is a fairly simple concept. Whatever is most relevant to today’s problems gets money. The hardest part about the entire process was listening to a dozen others. It took far too long to get to this point and I got pretty philanthro-pissed. Still, I’m glad we got here, and I believe we’ve selected a noble cause.

One of the things in Judaism that’s repeated over and over again is, “Remember the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” In these trying times, where strangers are more estranged than ever, this value is all the more pertinent. I’ve learned that during days when your voice is not heard, money can speak for you. Three thousand dollars may not be much in the grand scheme of things, but a whisper is better than silence.

May our whisper in the ear of a stranger be one of comfort and support, may the warmth of our breath be the heat that melts the ICE encroaching upon them, and may the wind of our lungs be the gale that topples injustice.

But I’m never doing this again.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the remarkable students of the Berkshire B’nai Tzedek Youth Foundation for their thoughtful, values-driven decision-making and for lending their voices to the urgent priorities of our community. Their commitment to social justice and collective responsibility exemplifies the very best of what it means to be young Jewish leaders. We are deeply grateful to Rabbi Jodi Gordon and our partners at Hevreh of Southern Berkshire for their ongoing dedication and guidance in shaping this meaningful program. We also thank the generous donors who make youth philanthropy initiatives like this one possible through their support of the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires. It is especially fitting that this year’s grant was awarded to the Berkshire Immigrant Center—an organization originally founded by the Federation — bringing the story full circle and continuing our shared mission of building a more just and compassionate community.