Why is High Holy Days Tzedakah Different?
Although the mandate to give tzedakah is year-round, tzedakah on High Holy Days has somewhat different purposes or intentions. If you are moved by this explanation, there is a link below where you can donate your specific High Holy Day tzedakah below.
First, during these holy days, one says Yizkor in remembrance of all the people in our lives who have died — and the tradition is to actually enable the dead to continue to be benefactors after they are no longer here. And they do that through us. So these donations are done by us, but because of them and on their behalf. (And it should be of some comfort for each of us to know that our survivors will continue our tzedakah after we are gone.)
Second, the Ten Days of Awe call us to consider how to be our best selves, how to manifest the higher angels of our character by providing for something beyond our own selves. The giving of tzedakah is a significant way in which we do this, and it is an affirmation that we will give of ourselves throughout the year.
Our High Holy Day tzedakah is divided between the needs of the Kehilla community, scholarship funds for students at Kehilla who cannot afford the full tuition, and a social action organization that our teens have researched and have agreed should be a recipient.
Don’t wait till High Holy Days. You can give now here.