Director Dr. Itamar Raz. M.D.

Medical Doctor, 100 Shaarim, Yerushalaim, Israel

Definition, Evolution & Aims:

Based on the teachings of our sages, that charity literally gives life to a person, this organization is a non-profit foundation which collects moneys for the fulfillment of health needs of those patients of mine who cannot afford treatments and those treatments are not available on government funding.

Moneys are also redirected into acts of kindness that may not be related to patients’ physical health yet contribute largely to emotional and mental health, such as the giving of presents for birthdays of the destitute and other such random acts of kindness.

The evolution of this project has been steadily increasing in momentum for the past several years. Recently the project has ripened in its many facets and is ready for launching. There are several patients on my list which must receive urgent help for the maintenance of their physical health.

Such health related examples include:

Essential Medications:

• Medicines for chronic or acute conditions such as high blood pressure, and Diabetes, which have high cost medicines that are recommended by the experts and are not covered by insurance! My heart goes out to them! They have very high and dangerous sugar levels and stay on the simple non effective medicines just because they can't afford the good stuff!It’s sad and this was one of the reasons the fund was established! We are proud that we have helped several patients reach a reasonable control level with the donations and this is thanks to our donors, whose merit will stand for ever for helping these sick and needy people to prevent further complications of the illnesses!  

Health treatments

Visits to therapists that are not covered by government funding and for those who are uninsured):

• Psychological: Some patients were recommended psychological treatment by psychiatrists and could not afford it. They were lost and in a very bad mental state, and with the help of the fund we have seen great results in adolescents that have improved their life greatly by taking concentration or behavior or mental state medications that are not covered! This has changed their lives!
• Chiropractic, Chinese Medicine
• Essential Emergency Dental work

Health Needs and Accessories:

• Glasses for those who have no insurance nor government funding.
• MEDICAL DEVICES: Nebulizers, Oxygen machines etc.
  

• Back and other joints support.

Religious:

• Assistance with purchasing Tefillin, Talis & Mezuzas and for those who cannot afford them.

IT IS MY DUTY TO ENSURE THAT ALL MONEYS ARE SPENT WISELY AND PRIORITY IS GIVEN TO THE MOST URGENT MATTERS

67% OF ALL MONEYS DONATED ARE FORWARDED DIRECTLY TO THE PURCHASING OF THESE ESSENTIAL ITEMS. 33% IS PAID TO COLLECTORS.

THOSE DONATING WILL HAVE CHOICE TO WHICH CAUSE THEIR MONEY GOES.

PHILOSOPHY

• WE STAY OUT OF POLITICS!!!
• To comply with ALL HALACHAS, ESPECIALLY BUSINESS ONES EVEN THE ONES NOT REGULARLY IN USE.

Complying with the Holistic Entrepreneurial Philosophy as below:

• Our Foundation will strictly adhere to the Holistic Entrepreneurial Philosophy. This, in addition to the above Halachic requirements, involves weighing the benefit vs harm of each aspect of the enterprise. Only actions which we truly believe to be benefiting the greater community and the world will be adopted.
  Some examples of this principle will be:
• Ensuring the highest quality products for patients.
• Having fair dealings with all parties.
• Minimizing the impact on the environment using as little resources as possible to propagate our organisation, and encouraging our affiliated organisations and businesses to do likewise. For example:
• Using recycled materials when possible.
• Recycling products ourselves.
• Using already established transporters and gaps in the industry rather than having our own vehicles.
• Researching the ethics of the organisations and companies with which we deal.

MORAL CODE

KIDDUSH HASHEM

Ensuring the highest moral code and continually evaluating our honesty, trust and best intentions towards our customers, employees and in any dealings we engage with Jewish & Non Jewish enterprises. Training our Staff in issues of Kiddush Hashem when dealing with customers. (E.g. Polite, subtle and helpful in all dealings…case scenarios and seminars…)

ENVIRONMENT – STAFF:

• ‍To create a workplace environment which:
• Is full of love, where employees can grow, learn and develop bonds amongst themselves whatever their positions in the enterprise.
• Is as stress free as possible. Approachability of managers to answer any question from employees and to help with any issue an employee would be dealing with.
• Encourages working as a team, with requests not orders amongst staff at all levels, where there is no actual hierarchy but a network where all staff are an integral part of the enterprise which emanates from a source (HASHEM YITBARACH) and flows through the senior staff to be infused into all staff.
• Eventually, there will, with Hashem’s Will, be a person (probably a social worker or a team of them) specifically employed for staff care, not only to help with problems, but with general regular sessions of psychology and help in any way. Also a questionnaire will help us know about staff characters to be able to supply the appropriate individualized gifts depending on their interests and needs for their Yom Huledet and Yom Tovs!!!   כן יהי רצון
• Provide regular Quality Control questionnaires to staff and customers to facilitate moral growth and fairness in the enterprise. 

PLAN FOR EXPANSION

Charity is Life will, Be-ezrat Hashem, be looking to expand into the following areas:

• Kiruv Projects - As an observant Jew who has come from a secular background I believe I possess the tools to understanding the psyche of the secular community and can tailor Kiruv ideas to their understanding and Yiddishkite development. Amen.
• Chessed Projects (Donation to Learning centers, food, hospitals etc. worldwide and especially in Eretz Yisrael)
• Research Projects
• Health Retreats for the sick (also to be in exchange for voluntary donations)
• Health product development and promotion with all proceeds going to our charity fund.

PROMOTION

CROSS VENTURE ADVERTISING:

• Magazines, papers, websites, schools and synagogues -  The board of communications will write articles to be included in papers, magazines, Synagogue newsletter etc. in return for advertising space:
• Jewish News worldwide
• ALL JEWISH MAGAZINES AND PAPERS (even cooking!!!)
• Jewish Websites
• Liaising with Medical Practitioners. As part of our promotional campaign, we will write to doctors of all fields, and other health practitioners, urging them to help us spread the message of Charity is Life.
• Posters will be placed in schools, synagogues, community centers, children’s activity centers. A worldwide telephone number and website shall be set up.

PRACTICALITIES – MY Role & current situation:

Office Work:    

• Mashgiach – Ensure that all above requests namely the moral and ethical codes of Charity is Life are put into place without compromise.
• Communication with the various facets of this organisation and external parties.
• The recruitment of worldwide staff and agents for this foundation.
• Other consultancy necessary.

Where Will the Money Come From?