By: Daphna Strelitz
Jewish Community Foundation Manager
“If your brother becomes impoverished and their means falter beside you, you shall support them…” (Vayikra 25:35)
In Behar, we read a profound teaching: that we are obligated to step in—not when someone has already hit rock bottom, but when we see them beginning to slip. Jewish responsibility begins not with charity, but with attentiveness. With care. With noticing.
This mitzvah reminds us that supporting others is not simply an act of kindness; it is a core feature of what it means to live in community with one another. As Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks wrote, “Poverty demeans, and so does charity, but help that allows a person to become self-sufficient is an act of respect as well as compassion.” The goal is not just to give, but to uplift.
Every day, The Foundation at JEWISHcolorado brings this core Jewish value to life through our work. Donor-advised funds, endowments, and legacy gifts are not only financial instruments—they are sacred tools for ensuring that no one in our community falls through the cracks. They are how we strengthen others beside us, quietly and consistently. With care. With noticing.
This week’s double parsha, Behar-Bechukotai, also reminds us of the cyclical nature of support. The laws of shmita and yovel teach us that rest, renewal, and redistribution must be built into the rhythm of society. No one should be trapped in a permanent state of disempowerment. The Foundation’s work reflects that same belief—that, with thoughtful planning and collective generosity, we can build a community where everyone has a chance to thrive.
At a time when the world often pulls us toward individualism, the Torah pulls us back toward connectedness. We are not self-made. We are community-made.
Jewish tradition doesn’t ask us to wait for someone else to act. It asks: What will you do when someone near you falters? Will you reach out? Will you build something lasting that helps them stand tall?
Our donors answer this question not just with generosity, but with vision. They create funds that support Jewish education, mental health, food security, Israel engagement, and so much more. They partner with us to build a stronger, more compassionate community—not just for today, but for generations to come.
This Shabbat, may we remember that the foundation of a just society is not wealth or power, but mutual responsibility. And may we continue building that foundation—together.
Please email Daphna Strelitz at dstrelitz@jewishcolorado.org with questions or comments.