Chaverim, friends: 

Tzedakah is often translated as 'charity' but charity is derived from Latin and has to do with ideas of love. Think of the word 'cherished.' We don't do tzedakah out of love. We do it because it's the right thing to do. Tzedakah is Hebrew and shares its root letters with the words for right and righteous, just and justice, balance and fairness. Plus: doing acts of tzedakah is a commandment (a mitzvah) and thus is simply obligated. Whether or not we want to 'do' tzedakah is immaterial. The obligation is there and we show our seriousness and engagement with our tradition and covenant with God and our people by way of doing mitzvot - from the ethical to the ritual.

And our contemporary understanding of the commandment listed above extends the teaching beyond the borders of our ancestral and modern land and beyond the borders of our own people. And while we certainly are not obligated to give to our own detriment, in the words of merchant and philanthropist Nathan Straus (whom I recently taught about), "Don't give until it hurts, give until it feels good!"

I am no expert on governmental policy and I have not been following closely enough the changes to the SNAP program and realities facing those in need during this time of the government shutdown. 

But I do know that there are great needs - in general, by those who are financially-strapped - and those needs are only increased if/when governmental assistance is curtailed. 

I want to highlight a few local efforts where we can apply one of the 613 commandments of Torah, namely fulfilling the mitzvah of opening our hands to our brothers and sisters in need. 

The New Milford Food Bank is open on Thursdays from 9am-4pm (or by special arrangement) for those who may need. The food bank is located at the John Pettibone Community Center (2 Pickett District Road, NM).

New Milford United Methodist Church (68 Danbury Road, NM) has a food pantry that is open on Thursdays from 3pm-6pm. Located across the street from NM Food Bank.

Loaves & Fishes Hospitality (25B Bridge Street, NM) is open every day from 4:30-5:30pm where you can get a full, hot meal and a bagged lunch to take with you. Note: Starting this month, Tuesday, Nov. 25, our temple will begin making those bagged lunches once/month! To volunteer, be in touch with Sandy Singco (sssingco@gmail.com). We will be making to-go lunches at 1:30pm at temple.

Camella’s Cupboard is for families with children. Proof of residency and proof of children are necessary to qualify to receive support. Camella's Cupboard is open every Friday from 4:30pm-6:00pm at Pettibone Community Center.

May the needs of humanity cease someday ... perhaps during the Days of the Messiah (Y'mot HaMashiach). In the meantime, may there be effective governmental policies to support those who are in need and may we give generously to fulfill the commandment of Deuteronomy and the Jewish tradition of sacred gifting and kindness.

Rabbi Mark Cohn