My Favorite Mitzvah Heroes

Some of my favorite Mitzvah heroes and non-profits (and one foundation), most with website links. I stand behind these 100% as being among the most efficient and most effecive non-profits in Israel. If you have any questions, please ask!

  • Shachen Tov (Good Neighbor Association) started and run by students of Hebrew University, providing food for people in need

  • Ukranian, Russian, and Belarussian teens at risk – Wild Walks was created to help these teens settle in Israel – they came with just 24 hours notice, often with not more than they could carry. And they were expected to fit in – and they do, but with a little help from Nastya, Ivan, and Arik at WW!

    Here is a video with the founder, and some of the teens – in YouTube, you have to click on the “CC” option to get the English closed captions/subtitles.

    And click here to read more about them !

  • Jenna Elbaz and Shaked Karp of My Piece of the Puzzle having high school kids-at-risk work with special needs kids and well, magic happens to both population groups!
  • Reut Sderot, is our main source for taking care of needs in the Gaza border town of Sderot, for more than 20 years (before the rockets and missiles started!)
  • We also work with those families in need from the Jerusalem Border Patrol unit giving the soldier some piece of mind that his/her family is taken care of.
  • Amit Shapira, of Amit LaDerech, helping discharged soldiers from challenged backgrounds, get a chance in life (many are lone soldiers)

  • Rachel Azaria started HaOgen for Families of IDF Reservists after October 7, 2023 – now working with over 10,000 families who have a parent actively serving in the IDF. (and never ever to be confused with a different organization called ha’ogen which is supposed to give free loans but doesn’t)

  • Dr. David Portowicz, Jaffa Institute, at risk kids in the poorest sections of Tel Aviv, Jaffa, and Holon

  • Yael Barlev, Galila working with anything and everything in northern Israel

  • Avshalom Beni, HAMA ISRAEL, Israel’s foremost animal assisted therapist

  • Robbie Sassoon of Crossroads, outreach to English-speaking street kids

  • Judy Singer of Matnat Chaim Israel’s foremost organization regarding kidney donations.

  • Yehuda Kohn, Beit Elazraki, a real home to 250+ kids who can’t live with their parents/families

  • Click, working with elders who are producing arts and crafts kits for sale in addition, there are programs for Shoah survivors and others

  • Rabbanit Kapach’s family continues to provide food for hungry people

  • If you want to accomplish anything related to Tzedakah and Hessed in these cities, let me know. We have developed relationships that allow us to work directly and with no overhead: Netanya, Ashkelon, Sderot, Gedera, and Shlomi

  • Phyllis and Tamar Heimowitz, IDF Girlfriends, a non-profit that works with girlfriends (and boyfriends) of IDF soldiers who have fallen

  • Harel mechanic and owner of a garage/body shop, but that’s only his day job….

  • MyIsrael is a UK based foundation donates to non-profits in the Israel, thoroughly vetted including many of the above.  They are certified in the UK and Israel,  and take 0 (zero) overhead so that 100% of the money donated goes to people in need.