According to the Talmud, a Torah scholar cannot live in a community that does not provide a number of essential Jewish resources, including a charitable fund, a synagogue and a mikveh ritual bath. Providing for Jewish communal needs is accordingly considered a mitzvah, a religious obligation. As a result, virtually every Jewish community in the world has institutions that provide for the community’s needs. Here are some ways to support them.
Nearly 150 Jewish federations exist across North America, collecting money from local Jews that is used to support various communal needs, including relief for the poor, support for Israel and Jewish education. The federation umbrella group, Jewish Federations of North America, has a directory of locally affiliated groups on its website.
