Last week I attended a small reception with Israeli entrepreneurs outside of Tel Aviv to hear about The Jewish Agency’s “Project 10.” Project 10 provides individuals who are 22-35 the opportunity to work on social justice projects in five countries around the world within a Jewish context. About 70% of their day is spent working with local (non-Jewish) communities and 30% of the day is spent learning about some aspect of Jewish culture. It might be history, text study or something else entirely. Just like the American peace corps in the 1960s, Project Ten not only helps others, it expresses the ethical impulse towards Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) that grounds Judaism and much of Israeli life.
The reception also illustrates philanthropy in Israel, a feature of Israeli society that has been developing in recent years. Until the 1990s, Israeli society was grounded on a strong social welfare state model. With the state meeting the social welfare needs of the population and the nation being a developing economy, there was neither the capital to give nor the culture of giving.
Now that Israel has transformed into a robust economy, that is beginning to change. Events like this are increasing in frequency as Israelis are learning about philanthropic vision and planning. (What they need is a Michael Oberlander or Julie Sparks Gibbs or any of our staff to help them plan!).
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- Amir Goldstein spent four years in St Louis as AMDOCS’ tenth employee and is now leading the effort to secure resources for Project 10.
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- Ayub Kara (Likud), Minister of Commerce.
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- Natan Sharansky, Chair of JAFI addressing the small crowd.
