NLJC makes a special High Holy Day charity appeal each year during which we collect and transmit donations on behalf of our community. Members of our congregation choose the charities to be supported each year.
We aim to support two charities a year, raising donations during the High Holy Days and over the Channukah period. This year we are supporting: the Norfolk Community Foundation COVID-19 Response Fund and the Norwich Foodbank.
Given the impact the current economy is having on poor families, there has scarcely been a more crucial time to support the Norwich Food Bank, a local charity. NLJC members, along with other members of the local Council of Christians and Jews chapter, have also volunteered at the Norwich Food Bank. NLJC collects & drops off non-perishable foods for the Norwich Food Bank regularly.
Some of our previously chosen charities:
Kids Court in Conflict (Yachad Youth)
Yachad Youth is a group of young Zionist leaders from across the religious spectrum in the UK. They want to see Israel thrive as a sanctuary for the Jewish people that stays true to the democratic, tolerant and peaceful ideals it was founded upon. They believe that if someone has committed a crime, they should be held accountable. Israel has a duty to ensure that it is a safe and secure nation. However, they also believe that every person is entitled to due legal process and that Palestinian children should have access to a lawyer throughout their judicial process.
Hagar: Jewish-Arab Education for Equality
Hagar is dedicated to creating a shared space for Jewish and Arab residents of the Negev, a space based on the foundtions of multiculturalism, bilinguialism and equality. Through the establishment of bilingual, integrated schools and a vibrant shared community, Hagar provides sustainable alternatives for civic engagement, education and pedagogy, which bring hope for a more peaceful future in the region.
Its aims are:
- To promote social inclusion for the public benefit by preventing people from becoming socially excluded and assisting them to integrate into society.
- To develop the capacity and skills of the disadvantaged minority ethnic individuals and communities of Norwich to support the fulfillment of potential and enable active involvement in society.
- To contribute towards social and racial cohesion by building positive images and new connections among people of different backgrounds; thereby integrating marginalised people into the wider community.
We have supported Ma’ayan baBustan (or in Arabic, Ein Bustan). It is the first Jewish/Arab Waldorf kindergarten in Israel. Smile Train and Shaare Zedek are others.