Ki Teitzei offers us a treasure trove of mitzvot to discuss; 74, to be precise. As a member of National Woman’s Philanthropy, it inspires me that caring for the well-being of our fellow man (and woman)—one of the central themes of NWP—is also one of the central themes of all the mitzvot in this parsha.

We are all part of this esteemed group, not because of the tzedakah we give, but because we believe the way we give back to our communities is at the core of our mission. It is what drives us. 

As we share our personal stories, I am touched by the selfless acts of my peers. Whether we are gathered together as mothers, sisters or daughters; whether we work in the home or in an office, one thing is certain: we work within the community, making sure that our day schools, nursing homes and special needs facilities meet their needs.

We have all traveled the Jewish world to see the chesed our international agencies display. Whether delivering food packages and medicine in St. Petersburg or rescuing families from war-torn Ukraine, caring for our fellow Jews’ well-being is at the core of our work. I had the privilege of visiting Cuba a few years ago to see how, by caring for one another, this aging community with few resources is able to function far better than its non-Jewish peers throughout the country.  

As we journey though the month of Elul, we are required to reflect on the past year and try to improve ourselves for the upcoming Day of Judgement. May we be mindful of whether we have done all we can to care for our fellow Jews in need, and may we constantly strive to do more.

Shabbat Shalom,

Becky