Aaron
When Aaron was thinking about his bar mitzvah, he was guided by Maimonides’ teachings that the best form of tzedakah is to help a person help him or herself. In lieu of gifts, Aaron asked his guests to make contributions to his fund at JCF.
How was he planning to use the fund?
Aaron identified charities whose goals were consistent with the top rung of Rambam’s ladder of charity: A NY-based charity that helps formerly homeless people achieve lives of independence and self-sufficiency; three organizations dedicated to helping Ethiopian–Israeli children integrate into Israeli society; and a social services agency for the elderly.