israel Green charity

Posted by admin under Perspective, Self Improvement, Solutions to Poverty, What can "I" do

Are you saying YES to life? This is such a great concept yet sometimes difficult to use.

Sometimes in life we come across things that aren’t exactly the way we would like them to be. We wake up in the morning, having our day planned, and then all of a sudden “life” hits us. We plan on picking up the dry cleaning at a certain hour only to find out that it will not be ready until the next day. We call our spouse and are blindsided by an onslaught of “questions” that sound more like an interrogation than a search for “understanding”. Or, we planned our monthly budget only to find out that a not so minor repair will be needed at home which blows the budget. Or G-d forbid we receive news of an illness or tragedy in the family.

The question is, how do we look at these things? Should we take them as a bullet to the chest? Or can we take them somehow in some more positive light?

The answer quite simply, and as I mentioned above, is just a YES! That is, we can of course say NO to the circumstance, and either way we will feel pain. We will feel the pain as we fight our emotions, and engage the situation. And we will feel the pain even if we accept the situation (by saying Yes). But, when we say “no” we are trying to fight the reality that just cannot be changed. When we say yes we are in essence accepting the reality, albeit with the pain that goes along with it, but by saying yes we are now empowered to do something about it. That something may well include a plan and the ability to change the reality were presented with. Or, it will be simply to accept that reality and find ways to positively cope with the things we did not plan on and would rather do without. One comes from a point of being a victim, the other of being a creator, a person with power.

So just say yes to life and feel the relief that can bring along with the inspiration.

This perhaps is THE key ingredient to getting poverty “solved” once and for all. On the “poor person’s” side, they must say “Yes” to life’s challenges and work hard to overcome and better their situation.

On the philanthropist’s side, they must say “Yes” to the opportunities to help their fellow man.

On Society’s side, we must all say “Yes” to solving humanities greatest issues.

Cash Flow

Posted by admin under Child Poverty, Disposable Income, Getting By In Israel, Perspective, Self Improvement, Unemployment, What can "I" do

Cash Flow

Cash flow is one of those things that not many people understand. People who are in financial dire straits are very likely a part of that group.

There are several stages into getting out of debt and getting to financial stability. Two central stages of reaching stability are the survival stage, and the stability stage.

This survival stage is about making sure that they’re able to feed the family, get to work and back, and overall to not “lose it all”.

The stability stage is about staying afloat. Where you’re not worried about going further into debt. You are getting by from day to day and there might be a little bit of money to put aside for that rainy day.

If someone does not know how to handle, or better yet manage cash flow, they may heading for disaster. The central “trick” to cash flow management is always keeping in mind that tomorrow’s expenses will very quickly become today’s. There’s no getting away from it.

People who are in financial dire straits as I said above, and do not know how to manage the cash flow, are one day going to find themselves in a very difficult predicament.

It’s all about discipline. Sometimes people without, forget that they are without, and allow themselves too many “luxuries’. Sometimes those luxuries may be little things like flavored yogurt, or a pack of cookies, but those things add up. A friend of mine buys a pack of gum a day. “It’s only three shekels” he says. But those three shekels add up to between 600 and 750 shekels a year if you buy a pack a day. It’s much like the argument against cigarette consumption. It’s “only” X amount of money but in the end its thousands a year.

So cash flow is not only about the timing of monies coming in and going out, it’s also about the discipline to control and manage the monies going out, and of course coming in.

Karmey Hesed’s Newest Video

Posted by admin under Child Poverty, Children, Crime, Disposable Income, Divorce, Getting By In Israel, Green Charity, Perspective, Poverty in Israel, Self Improvement, Social Justice, Solutions to Poverty, Terrorism and Poverty, Torah, Tzedakah, Uncategorized, Unemployment, What can "I" do, What can THEY do, World Poverty

Always Look Up – Some Thoughts on Tu BiShvat

Posted by admin under Perspective, Self Improvement, What can "I" do

Sweet Apples

Have you ever wondered what would be the one single ingredient to a better life? What is the one thing that one can keep doing to make their lives that much better, that much easier?

Well, I had a thought this morning. Given that its Tu Bishvat, The Jewish new year for trees, I got to thinking about trees. Well actually, I got to thinking about why G-D made it that the fruits on a tree are for the most part above the ground, above our heads. And then I thought,well, one sec, Tu Bishvat is about “fruits” of the ground as well, just think about tomatoes, cucumbers, wheat and the like.

Barring a few exceptions, it seems to me though that the sweetest of G-D’s nutritious gifts to humanity are the fruits above ground. That is, the ones we have to look up to see and pick. The less sweet things, the vegies, are on the ground. All we have to do is look down and there they are, ready to pick, ready to eat.

Looking down is always easier. Seeing the negative as they say. Its not always easy to look up, to see the positive, and yes, sometimes we have to climb a bit to get there, to grab the fruit, but the prize is always the sweetest!

Happy Tu BiShvat!

If Only it Were This Easy – Getting Out of Poverty

Posted by admin under Child Poverty, Children, Disposable Income, Getting By In Israel, Perspective, Poverty in Israel, Self Improvement, Social Justice, Solutions to Poverty, Tzedakah, What can "I" do, What can THEY do

Break the Cycle

The Brookings Institution came out out with a study a while back that suggests that its “easy” to get out of, or at least, avoid, poverty. Their suggestions might make sense in the USA, or other developed coutries where the concept of a “Disposable Income” exists. However, in a place like Israel, that is just not the case. Here is their article:

We’re a nation of bootstraps. Pull hard enough and you can pull yourself from rags to riches.

Or so we like to think. New research suggests we’re not as strapping as we might think when it comes to economic mobility.

New research from the Brookings Institution shows that economic mobility – the chance a child born into a poor family has to escape poverty – isn’t as robust as we might think.

If you’re born into a middle-class family, there’s a 76 percent chance you’ll end up middle class or even wealthier. Born into a poor family? Only a 35 percent chance. More here.

Alleviating Poverty – A must listen…

Posted by admin under Perspective, Self Improvement, Social Justice, What can "I" do, What can THEY do, World Poverty

Sukkot – Its about appreciation

Posted by admin under Disposable Income, Perspective, Self Improvement, Social Justice, Torah, Tzedakah, What can "I" do

If we appreciate what we have, we may just want to lend that helping hand to those who have-not:

Soccot and Poverty

Posted by admin under Child Poverty, Perspective, Self Improvement, Social Justice, Solutions to Poverty, Torah, Tzedakah

Sukkah

On Sukkot, we are instructed to “live in booths seven days…in order that future generations may know that [G-D] brought them out of the land of Egypt” (Leviticus 23:42-43).  The Sukkah reminds us of the Israelites’ temporary dwellings during their forty years wandering in the desert. The Sukkah is a symbol of the protection G-D granted us during that transient period when we were instructed to “thrive and increase and be able to possess the land that the Eternal promised on oath to [our] fathers” (Deuteronomy 8:1).  Sukkot is also known as Chag Ha’asif (the Holiday of Gathering). The Torah recognizes this time of year as one during which food was bountiful and the earth full of blessings (Deuteronomy 16:13, 15 and Leviticus 23:39).

G-D’s directions to thrive and increase must not have been easy for a people wandering through the desert. Even with our more sedentary lifestyle, they remain challenging for us. Especially in a time of economic crisis, how do we ensure that food, if not bountiful for all, is at least accessible to all? How do we best fulfill G-D’s commandments to care for our children so they may grow into healthy and productive adults?

From our days wandering in the desert through present times, the Jewish people have acted on G-D’s wisdom and commands, prioritizing the protection of the most vulnerable. On this Sukkot let us be inspired by our rich tradition as a people who place great value on the sanctity and welfare of children. And let us remember that our responsibility lies beyond the mitzvah of welcoming into our Sukkah those who are hungry or in need of shelter. Let us also work to ensure that in our children’s generation, no one knows the ravages of hunger or the sting of poverty.

Adapted from here.

5 Budgeting Tips to Build Discipline into Your Spending – Part 1

Posted by admin under Disposable Income, Perspective, Self Improvement, Solutions to Poverty, Torah, What can "I" do

Bousehold Budget

Do you inwardly cringe when you see the word “budget”? Does the sound of the word bring with it a sense of dread? I even have the nerve to put the word “discipline” into the post title. You may have thought of creating a budget for you or your family, but, never quite completed the job. There was not enough internal motivation or external push at the time, so the effort was relegated to the pile of started, but, unfinished tasks. Well, having a budget is a giant step toward building discipline into your spending.

So, Why Do I Need a Budget?

So, “Why do I need a budget?” you might ask. In the midst of a financial crisis, it’s even more important to know where your money is going. A budget is a spending plan. It allows you to see the various buckets of your income and spending grouped together in way that you can easily see if you are achieving your financial goals, or heading for trouble. Trouble hits when you are spending more than is coming in. You could be making a six-figure income, but, it’s not what you make, it’s what you are able to keep in your control that matters most. Using credit to make ends meet definitely does not help your financial stance.

Most folks know what being “broke” means…having little or no available cash, no savings, out of money, strapped, or down-and-out.  The word “broke” has the connotation of being a temporary situation. That is, you’re only “broke” until your next paycheck clears the bank. If “broke” is where you are, you don’t need to stay there. Creating and sticking to a budget is a means to stop living paycheck to paycheck.

The question is: “Do you want to continue managing your money so that you are “broke” before each payday”? Or, do you want to develop a spending plan that allows you to give as the Lord instructs, to beat debt, to send your children to college, to build that retirement nest egg, or whatever goal the Lord has given you?

What Does a Budget Provide?

Here is what a budget provides:

• a sense of control over your spending;
• an organized view of income vs. expenses;
• a framework within which to operate;
• improved awareness of the flow of your money during the month; and a
• method for achieving your financial goals

My husband and I have been married for more than twenty years. I handle the household expenses. Before I started our family budget, I would experience great anticipation when I knew a payday was close at hand. Then, a few days afterward, I’d be wondering what in the world happened to our income. It was as if our dollars had evaporated. After being consistently frustrated month after month with not knowing where my family’s money was really going, I decided to change my thinking from “dread” concerning creating a workable spending plan, to avid interest and motivation. What I learned immediately was what a budget is NOT! From 10TalentWealth.com

Shlomo Carlebach – a Gevalt Tzedakah Story by The Holy Sanzer

Posted by admin under Self Improvement, Solutions to Poverty, Torah, Tzedakah, What can "I" do