The Joy of Giving to Others

Yael Eckstein  |  September 6, 2022

Yael Eckstein teaches her children the joy of giving to others with an elderly woman in Israel
(Photo: Yossi Zeliger)

These days, we find ourselves living in the so-called “selfie generation,” where our focus is often on ourselves — how we look, how many “likes” we get on social media, what we have, and what we do. The irony is that focusing on ourselves does not make us happier; rather it robs us of our joy. As the Bible teaches, what truly brings joy is giving to others.

For the Jewish people, charity is not seen as just another good deed, but rather as a sacred, biblical obligation, practiced all year long as part of the Sabbath and Jewish holidays observances. Most Jewish homes, synagogues, schools, and even businesses have at least one special box for giving charity. The ultimate goal, says Yael, is for her children to learn to give consistently and generously.

Listen to Yael’s latest podcast to learn how these principles can help the children in your life experience the joy of giving.