Yad LaKashish is the Righteous Crowd Org of the Week!

Happy to return to the workshop after three months of being away because of COVID-19.

Yad LaKashish

Empowering the Elderly through Art in Jerusalem

In this week’s Torah portion, Vaetchanan, Moses explains to the Israelites the importance of keeping God’s mitzvot. The leading medieval commentator, Rambam, teaches that we need to be more careful fulfilling the commandment of tzedakah than any other mitzvah. This week’s organization, Yad Lakashish, was founded on Rambam’s principle that the highest level of tzedakah is helping someone help themselves. In this spirit, we are excited to feature an organization that empowers and supports elderly individuals living in Jerusalem.  

The mission of Yad LaKashish is to empower needy elderly through creative work opportunities and comprehensive social and financial benefits in a warm, community environment, and to advance positive attitudes in the community about the elderly and their place in society.

Many Righteous Crowd members have visited Yad LaKashish in Jerusalem and have purchased beautiful handmade gifts. Righteous Crowd supported Yad LaKashish in March 2019.

Executive Director Ariela Schwartz Zur wrote to Righteous Crowd:
"During the Corona closure nearly half a million new Israel shekels were distributed to the elderly as we maintained the Monthly Stipend Program. Knowing that their financial support had not been affected gave them tremendous relief. Throughout the Corona crisis, we remained committed to supporting the artisans financially and emotionally.....I am delighted to share, with great joy and relief that 180 of our elderly artisans returned to work after nearly three months of Corona isolation. They were thrilled to resume a meaningful routine amongst friends, in a safe and secure environment. In order to re-open, we modified, adapted and took all the necessary steps to meet national health guidelines. To further protect our elderly, we closed our dining room and now provide nutritious lunches in take-away containers. With operations running smoothly under the new strict health guidelines, we turn our attention to addressing the financial shortfall caused by the evaporation of visitors."

You can also support Yad LaKashish by shopping at the gift shop.  Masks are for sale as well.
 

To learn more about Yad LaKashish, click here.

For our full interview with Ariela from 2019, click here.