Putting Jewish Poverty Front of Mind

Joining Together to End Jewish Poverty

TEN envisions a world where every Jew, regardless of their income, can have their needs met and live a thriving Jewish life. 

When it comes to taking action, poverty can at times feel intractable–– but it is solvable. 

Who are we to say it is too difficult when there are thousands of Jewish human service agency staff at a range of organizations helping Jews when life sends challenges their way. Yet, these agencies are often under-funded and not equipped to meet the full scale of the problem. That’s where we come in.

We mobilize our community of funders to scale up our Jewish support systems and make sure they’re significantly resourced to be successful, so that every Jew who falls into economic insecurity has a place to turn. 

This high holidays, join us in funding your local Jewish human services agency. Locate your neighborhood's provider by searching the over 170 agencies here.

Rachel Sumekh 
Project Executive,
TEN: Together Ending Need 

"It is significantly easier to keep someone housed than it is to find housing for someone who is homeless." 

Andres: Why isn't Jewish Poverty front of mind for more donors?

Rachel: Its a great question because taking action on Jewish poverty goes back to the founding thread of our Jewish organized life as we know it. And there are many Jewish donors from Jeff Schoenfeld to the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation to Cindy Golub for whom it is front of mind. 

Episode 55 of What Gives? The Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network, hosted by JFN  President and CEO Andrés Spokoiny. In this episode, Andrés speaks with  Rachel Sumekh, Project Executive of TEN: Together Ending Need, a collaborative initiative of funders working to ensure that all Jews have access to basic needs. Rachel highlights the reality of Jewish poverty, dispels the myths surrounding it, and sheds light on how poverty impacts all sectors of the Jewish community. Rachel brings both data and heart to this important conversation, as we explore ways the Jewish philanthropic community can tackle these challenges.

Take a Listen

By TEN Advisory Board member Dr. Ilana Horwitz and JFNA Chief Impact Officer Mimi Kravitz

The High Holidays are a time of renewal, reflection and community. They also offer synagogues and Jewish organizations a crucial chance to embrace these disconnected Jews, build relationships and connect them more deeply to the community. To meet this moment, synagogues and Jewish organizations must take concrete steps. A good place to start being cost. 

Low income Jews are three times more likely to say that cost keeps them from joining synagogues. Offering free tickets for first-time attendees, or expanding services to accommodate those without tickets, can make a significant difference.

The barriers to entry for low-income Jews are not always financial or logistical, but can also be social. Sometimes they struggle with not seeming like the ideal “type” of Jew that synagogues might wish to have as a member. A mother of three in her early 30s, with visible tattoos, shared her hesitation about joining a synagogue due to fears of not fitting in. “I don’t give off a ‘Jewish look’ or vibe,” she told us. “I don’t want to be known as the person always haggling for financial aid.”

Read more in the Forward

Join us at the JFNA General Assembly

FEATURED SESSION

We Can’t Afford To Lose Them: Why Millions of Low Income Jews Disengage and What We Can Do 

Monday, Nov. 11th 10:30 – 11:45 AM

New research shows that 20% of North American Jews experience financial vulnerability. Low income Jews today are more desiring of Jewish connection and yet are less aware of the myriad resources and community available. Dr. Ilana Horwitz’ new work on Life Course Theory has pinpointed where disengagement happens and the individual or family become “untethered.” The session will begin with a brief presentation on the findings, followed by a discussion highlighting real world examples of how Federations, Jewish organizations and philanthropists around the country are working to build a community where truly everyone thrives. 

LUNCH DEEP DIVE AND DISCUSSION

Financial Inclusion: How to prioritize low-income Jews in your community

Monday, Nov. 11th, 12:00 - 1:30 PM

This session will take you through an interactive guided exercise to incorporate a financial inclusion lens in your community. We will discuss bright spots from other communities, provide a high-level roadmap for ensuring that low-income Jews are included in planning from day 1, and create space for interactive dialogue for both professional and lay participants to plan for kicking off this work back home. While not required, we recommend pairing this session with the breakout session “ We Can’t Afford To Lose Them: Why Millions of Low Income Jews Disengage and What We Can Do”, scheduled directly prior tot his lunch. 

Let us know you'll be there by emailing rsumekh@jfunders.org

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