My father and Bill Lipsey’s father (aka “Honey” – of the Honey Foundation) were a part of the same Bar Mitzvah class at Anshe Emet Synagogue, Chicago.  My father spoke of the Land of Israel during his 1939 Bar Mitzvah speech, nine years before Israel was established. And my Dad made the Land of Israel and the Jewish people central pillars in our home.  Jews no matter where they might be – were parts of our community.

My Mom and Dad taught me early on that Tzedaka should begin at home – first, with your community and then radiating out to repair the world and to help Israel be a light unto all other nations.

The Honey Foundation speaks very deeply to these lessons my parents offered me as a child.  Core to the work of the Honey Foundation is community building, helping all different types of Jews feel connected both to one another and to Judaism.  And these changes will certainly impact the larger world!

We are too small a nation to exclude any Jews who want to be part of Judaism.  And the demand for inclusive Judaism today is overwhelming!

Since I started working as a young man, the first item I put on my wall is a framed quote from Pirke Avot: “If I am not for myself, who am I? If I am only for myself, what am I? If not now, when?” The Honey Foundation is a powerful organization that helps me respond to these existential questions posed by our Sages so long ago.