The reception for the Kinder Kits was overwhelming. The Rabbi could not believe the generosity and care in organization that had been put into making the Kinder Kits. I spent a few minutes describing the program. He was in disbelief when I quoted our explosion of growth and the means by which we attain our [...]

Day 4 Haiti We had yet another wonderful day. I must tell you that as I write there is a tremendous thunderstorm – the first rains I’ve experienced here so far. Our morning began with a meeting with our partner Food For the Poor (FFTP) Haiti. Ve’ahavta is working with FFTP Canada to facilitate four [...]

Another incredible day. With each day, with each hour, I find my perspective shifting. I am realizing, for example, that while during my first few days here it seemed as though very little has happened here in terms of cleanup since the earthquake, I have been noticing a lot of activity on the streets revolving [...]

Let us take care of your Rosh Hashanah mailing.  Tax receipts are issued for all card donations. Call our office today or click on the link to send sweet wishes to your friends, family and colleagues. This beautiful and inspiring card features original artwork by Ve’ahavta’s Founding Director, Avrum Rosensweig.

In the past month our volunteers and staff have packed and delivered over 1,500 Kinder Kits to local partners in the GTA. Here is a testimonial from a volunteer that completed a delivery of sponsored Kinder Kits: The reception for the Kinder Kits was overwhelming. The Rabbi could not believe the generosity and care in organization [...]

Click to sponsor a Kinder Kit today!

I am so excited to tell you about our first real day in Haiti. It has been so full and we have covered a lot of ground. We started with an early breakfast and in the light of the morning sun I glanced at the pool and saw what I had missed last night – [...]

What a day.  Wake up in the morning in my house in Toronto, my daughter asleep beside me still.  Last minute packing before the cab arrives with Alison to take us to the airport. It seems strange to be going to Haiti.  Neither of us had been and we had no idea what to expect. [...]

The Ve’ahavta Street Academy (VSA) wrapped up today. Our students graduated. VSA, is a school for those who are homeless or near homeless. Ve’ahavta (www.vehavta.org) launched it at the end of June and it has been running until today (August 19th). Essentially VSA is an environment where we taught life skills (writing, finances, health and [...]

Ve’ahavta: The Canadian Jewish Humanitarian and Relief Committee is working quickly to develop a Jewish response to the crisis through a Pakistan Flood Relief Fund. A direct supply of aid and donor-supported relief projects have commenced based on the Jewish principle of Tikun Olam by providing life-saving food, clothing, medicine, and other resources as directed [...]

Pakistan is currently suffering from the most devastating flooding of recent history. At least 1,600 are dead, over one fifth of the country is under water, and more than 6,000 villages and towns destroyed. As victims brace for more flooding, up to 20 million have been affected, with millions displaced. While the scale of the [...]

Ve’ahavta Street Academy is winding down. We are holding our graduation on Thursday. The response from the nine graduates of the inaugural Academy class was very positive. Many students are moving on to other educational programs in September, and are excited about doing so. Ve’ahavta will hold a Ve’ahavta Street Academy Alumni Monthly meeting to [...]

Our obligation to do our part to repair the world means we need to look out for those not only in faraway places but also those who are part of our community. Recently I spent an evening with the Ve’ahavta Homeless Outreach Van along with my wife and twelve year old son. There is no [...]

Mike Riley, a Ve’ahavta Street Academy student, and other share their struggle for financial independence. Read the article online: Fix welfare rules, panel urges province by Laurie Monsebraaten, Social Justice Reporter, The Toronto Star “Every day is a struggle with no food in the fridge, dirty laundry piling up and no cable in my TV,” [...]

The idea for this article started with a simple enough question. “Do you have any understanding of the Jewish community?” Pretty Basic. But for me, the question unravels many of the reasons why I’ve always cultivated the relationships I have with my Jewish friends, why I love the environment I work in as well as [...]

Whenever I am walking behind someone and the tag on the back of their shirt is hanging out, I gently tap them on the shoulder and let them know, then tuck the tag inside. Every person has thanked me and smiled, and in fact, one person was so grateful, she hugged me, saying she was [...]

Even though it seems not to be politically correct these days, I try to celebrate the birthdays of everyone in the office – either publicly (because we are a small and close-knit bunch) or privately with a card and a whispered “Happy Birthday”. Friends and family get cards (both ecards from www.care2.com and the Hallmark [...]

Our office keeps bottled water in the fridge. When we have a hot day (and we’ve had alot of hot days this summer), I offer the person who delivers our mail “a cold one”. It’s always received gratefully and with a smile. – Terri, posted via Facebook Have you witnessed an act of Goodness? Did [...]

When I’m out walking in the park I collect garbage and carry it out with me. I figure that people are less likely to drop their waste if they see a clean park. – Jane, posted via Facebook Have you witnessed an act of Goodness? Did you share one yourself? Please share it with us [...]

When you are online and have a minute to spare take a look at www.thenonprofits.com, the Free Donations Directory. You may remember The Hunger Site the Breast Cancer Site or the Rainforest Site – a group of websites that collect money from their sponsors every time you click. That’s all it takes… a few seconds [...]

I was reading to my daughter, and came across a story that had been adapted from a poem by Randy Poole titled “The Difference He Made.” Here’s how the story went. One morning, while walking down a quiet beach, a boy saw an old man picking up stranded starfish and throwing them back into the [...]

I have come to realize that even though one may not have money, shelter or even more than a few pairs of clothes, one does have a heart. And in that heart flows the same blood as I. A few years ago, I traveled to Turkey where I met some amazing friends. They lived in [...]

We were surprised to have such intelligent, interesting conversations with some of these people. Recently, we were stopped at a light at one of the van stop locations, and began to chat with one of the van’s clientele about meeting him the previous week. It was amazing to be able to interact instead of just [...]

I spent an hour speaking to a lawyer about someone who is awaiting trial in prison. I am making arrangements with the lawyer to provide this person with clothes for court and money for what he needs in jail. – Theresa Have you witnessed an act of Goodness? Did you share one yourself? Please share [...]

I work with people in prison, a population not normally associated with “goodness”. Pete, someone I work with who has been inside for many years, is an amazing visual artist. He gives a lot of his paintings and drawings to non-profit community agencies to be used as fundraising tools, and doesn’t ask for a penny [...]

Date of Commencement: October 2010 Date of Completion: June 2011 Position Description: Serve as Ve’ahavta liaison to the project partners and to the volunteers Be present each week at the homework club from beginning to end (approximately 2 hrs/week) Transport donated supplies from Ve’ahavta to homework club as needed Provide on-site orientation for new Ve’ahavta [...]

The Lita and Mikey Ledbury Homework Club Commitment: 3.5 hrs/week beginning October 2010 and ending June 2011 Position Description: Provide on site supervision for learners who are students at Ledbury Park Elementary and Middle School and participants in the Lita and Mikey Ledbury Homework Club from 3:30 pm until 6 pm each Wednesday. Actively encourage [...]