Rabbi Uses Israeli Knowhow to Aid the World
There are probably not many rabbis helping to provide cleaner water in Myanmar (Burma) or first-aid training to wildlife rangers in Kenya.
But Rabbi Yossi Ives, the minister of Richmond Synagogue, is doing just that through the organisation he has founded to put Jewish humanitarian values into practice.
His enterprise, Tag International Development, supports social action and community-building in developing countries, by using Israeli know-how.
Its projects have ranged from creating safe play areas for children in landmine-affected areas of Azerbaijan to improving medical services in Zanzibar.
Tag stands for “Torah and gedulah”- worldly greatness – the phrase used of Rabbi Yehudah Hanasi, the compiler of the Mishnah some two millennia ago.
The idea for it grew out of Rabbi Ives’s sense that the “Jewish community is unnecessarily parochial.” He added: “The Jewish religion has lost its voice in relation to the big issues of the day. We have been focused inwards. We need to get back to a more positive stance in relation to the rest of the world.”
It was through his work with Israel’s medical service Magen David Adom that he realised the contribution Israeli expertise could make to other places.
Tag operates by arranging partnerships between Israeli organisations such as MDA or the Hadassah Hospital and local agencies in other countries.
“Increasingly, people realise that Israel is a very developed country that has learned to cope with challenges,” Rabbi Ives said.
Last month Tag brought groups from Sri Lanka and Indonesia for a seminar in Israel jointly sponsored by Mashav, Israel’s agency for international development co-operation. One of the subjects covered was “disaster preparedness” – training emergency services – which is vital for countries which, for example, in recent years have suffered the devastating effects of tsunamis.
Afterwards the guests from South-East Asia, joined by Israelis, spent a further week in Jordan.
Such relationships can transcend the political divide, according to Rabbi Ives. “The reason we are able to work together so well is that all we care about is saving lives. We’ve got the trust of partners all over the world.”
He even received good wishes for Israel Independence Day earlier this year from an associate in Indonesia. “We’re building bridges for peace,” he said. “There’s tremendous appreciation for what Israel can offer.”
New projects include building a clinic in Uman, in the Ukraine, site of the mass annual pilgrimage to the tomb of Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav: and supplying Android smart phones to remote rural villages in Sri Lanka.
Internet access has all sorts of practical applications, explained Rabbi Ives. “If you can use a phone to check the weather forecast, you can know that it’s safe to carry crops from one location to another without them getting ruined.”
Tag has quietly forged links in a dozen countries and its professional staff includes chief operating officer Amos Avgar, a former executive director of the American Joint’s international development programme.
Rabbi Ives, who recently gained his PhD from Oxford Brookes University for a study of goal-focused coaching, has also set up a sister organisation, the Tag Institute for Jewish Social Values. Its aim is to apply the insights of Jewish teachings to a variety of contemporary issues – such as eating disorders, bullying or the problems singles may have in finding partners.
“Our tradition offers useful insights into many social issues because it’s been around for a long time and it’s had to deal with many difficult challenges,” he said.
But he stresses that its approach is strictly humanitarian. “It’s not about proselytising, we are not promoting religion,” he said. “This is to do with social development.”
your son
yay abba your amazing
abba we spotted you!!!
go abba we are so proud of you!
keep it up!
your favorite fan club
mommie chaya miriam meir huvie dina dov rosie
your amazed son
abba mummy always said you are bringing moshioch
your
son
meir
zev
ives
UNSUNG HERO
Keep up the great work Rabbi Ives one of the unsung hero’s of the UK
The Rebbe-s Letter
This is a Chabad site and the statement of Rabbi Ives that the “Jewish community is unnecessarily parochial” deserves a response. There is a famous English letter from the Rebbe to those devoting time to help people in Kenya and Burma etc. The Rebbe points out that the only people who will help the Jewish nation are the Jews themselves, and therefore their efforts should be spent only for Yiddishkeit — while leaving these activities for the organizations etc. who are doing this anyway.
Shimon L
“The Rebbe points out that the only people who will help the Jewish nation are the Jews themselves, and therefore their efforts should be spent only for Yiddishkeit …” At the time the Rebbe wrote this famous letter such was the case … but now the world is different … maybe Moshiach’s tzyten … such as when there a major fire in Israel that Israel’s fire fighters could not handle, many countries came to help … the positives accrued to Israel during their help in Haiti, Japan … Rabbi Ives’ organization, it’s very good what he’s doing for its own sake, and likely will pay dividends far into the future. Tizkor limitzvos.
Letaken olam bemalchus Shakai
I agree with #5 BUT because we are now beating Reform at the “tikkun olam” game (and this is reality whereas Reform projects are a game) we can attract a lot of Yidden to Yiddishkeit as Reform and Renewal go under due to loss of their membership to intermarriage.
This is not something every shaliach should do, but when done properly and knowing why you are doing it, this kind of work can attract young Jews who would end up in movements that would lead them to intermarriage and Jewish oblivion.
There is probably a business angle to this as well for people who can get grant money and provide for-profit but subsidized efficient development services in sub-Saharan Africa.
moshe
#5
I don’t know if Rabbi Ives is correct about parocial-ness of the community he is referring to – I will take his word for it, but from your comment it is obvious that you are certainly too parochial!
Here is someone who is bringing business to yidden in Israel, and you just beat your chest and snort because it doesn’t sound farfrumt enough.
Tell all of us, O holy one, how many projects you have created for Israeli professionals and institutions?? How many yidden how you given parnosa to?? and you beat him around the head with the rebbe?
I remember a speech by JJ Hecht on the radio many years ago where he lambasted the reform critics of the rebbe for mixing into israeli politics, even though he didn’t live there. JJ ripped them a new one, asking them how many millions they had funneled into mosdos in Israel etc.
dude
‘The Rebbe-s Letter ‘ who the h are u to question what good sum1 dose in this world to make lazy ppl like u look good,i wld assume u sit on ur behind all day have nothing to do with ur sorry self but to start bringing in the rebbe when it suits ur sorry self…………….go get a damn job and do sumthing to better this world shame on u.
im sick of ppl like u using the rebbe when u got nothing else the rebbe wld be ashamed of a ‘chossid’of ur status
get a life board sole.
keep up the great work rabbi ives we need more ppl like u who r busy making this world a better place.
moshiach now
Go yossi
Amazing work!