Diaspora Giving to the Homeland
Diasporas 2017: Michael Lawrence, Chief Development Officer & FRD Israel Office Director - The Jewish Agency for Israel – 03/2017
A Homeland-Diaspora Story
Sense of Tradition and Obligation
The Lord spoke to Moses saying: ר ה וידב היהו ר אל־מש אמ :ל
Speak to the children of Israel, and have
them take for Me an offering; from every
person whose heart inspires him to
generosity, you shall take My offering.
~Exodus Chapter 25
ר ל דב א י ישר יאל־בנ ויקחו־ל
ת א ה מ ר כ ל־איש תרומ נו אש ידב
ו ולב י תקח ת ומ :את־תר
And they spoke to Moses, saying: "The
people are bringing very much, more
than is enough for the labor of the
articles which the Lord had commanded
to do."
אמרו ה וי ר אל־מש אמ ים ל מרב
ם ע יא ה ב י לה ה מד עבד ה ה אכ למל
ה ה אשר־צו ת יהו ה לעש :את
So Moses commanded, and they
announced in the camp, saying: "Let no
man or woman do any more work for the
offering for the Holy." So the people
stopped bringing.
~Exodus Chapter 36
ו ה ויצ ירו מש עב ול וי חנה ק במ
אמר יש ל ה א עשו־עוד ואש אל־י
ה אכ ת מל דש לתרומ א הק ויכ ל
ם ע ביא ה ה :מ
Sense of Tradition and Obligation
There are eight levels of charity, each greater than the next.
1. A gift or loan, or entering into a partnership.
2. Give to the poor without knowing to whom one gives, and without the recipient knowing from who
he received.
3. One knows to whom one gives, but the recipient does not know his benefactor.
4. One does not know to whom one gives, but the poor
person does know his benefactor.
5. One gives to the poor person directly into his hand,
but gives before being asked.
6. One gives to the poor person after being asked.
7. One gives inadequately, but gives gladly and with
a smile.
8. One gives unwillingly.
~Maimonides’ Eight Levels of Charity
Mishneh Torah, Laws of Charity, 10:7–14
Sense of Urgency
Ethiopian Aliyah
Yemenite Aliyah
Sense of Urgency
Rocket Fire 2014
Wild Fires 2016
Sense of Mission: Strengthening Israelis, Connection & Diaspora Communities
A Framework for Harnessing Diaspora Charity
1. Local Development Officer
2. Community and Education Emissaries
3. Enrichment Opportunities – Speakers, VIP Guests, Missions
4. Support Team – Grant Writing, Marketing, Donor Management
Diaspora Giving to the Homeland