Behind the Scenes at the J: What It Really Takes to Sustain Our Community

Jews don’t practice charity. We pursue tzedakah (justice) and gemilut chasadim (acts of lovingkindness) in pursuit of tikkun olam (repairing the world). Charitable giving is just one way in which we make the world a better place. We take what we earn from our own hard work and put it toward benefitting others in our community. It’s a win-win; we fulfill commandment and our community is strengthened as a result. 

Maimonides, however, challenges us to think about how we give. He ranks charitable giving from the lowest degree – giving only when asked – to the highest: forming a business partnership with someone in need, so that person no longer needs to rely on others to survive.  

Maimonides’ second highest level of giving is anonymous giving and receiving, in which the donor doesn’t know specifically where his gift will go, and the recipient does not know who helped him. In a way, that’s the type of giving we need at the J.  

Most people like to see visible results from their giving – programs continued, research pursued or an animal saved.  But we need tzedakah that supports our behind-the-scenes operations that are so vital to the gathering spaces and activities you love, but that are invisible to most members.  

These include: 

• Security personnel, surveillance systems, and access controls to keep our community safe.  

• Modern, reliable technology, including our computers, software, and IT systems—everything from online registration to donation management.  

• A full-time cleaning service, as well as continual maintenance and repairs, so we can sustain a clean, comfortable, and functional space.  

• Insurance to cover everything from fire protection and cybersecurity to our vehicles for after-school transportation, our childcare programs, our fitness center and more.  

 These expenses alone add up to more than one million dollars annually, but membership dues and program fees cover less than 75% of the cost of operating the J. Charitable support makes everything we do possible.  

Our staff strives to make engaging with the J feel easy, but behind that ease is a tremendous amount of effort, expertise, and heart — and the invisible systems that support all we do.  

As we approach the end of the year, we invite you to consider what the J means to you, your family, and our broader community. If the J has made a difference in your life—or if you simply value the role it plays in our region—please consider making a tax-deductible gift this year.  

You might not see all the things that go into making the J a central part of your community, and you might never know where your gift has made a difference. But trust us – your contribution will have a big impact in keeping the J running smoothly. And that’s a visible result our entire community will notice and appreciate.