Tikkun Olam


Aid for Kentucky Flood Victims

2025 Kentucky Flood Relief

Earlier this year, our neighbors in eastern Kentucky suffered from catastrophic flooding. Now generational flooding is impacting our friends in Louisville, Frankfort, and throughout the Commonwealth. At least 18 Kentuckians have lost their lives, including a young child in Frankfort. More than 530 road closures have impacted travel around the state. Nearly 1800 homes are without power, and many communities are facing water shutoffs, boil water advisories, and concerns about water systems and other utilities failing.

We encourage you to join JFB in supporting the relief efforts for our fellow Kentuckians. Please consider a generous donation today – any amount you can give is helpful. We will collect the funds and distribute them to the organizations doing the important rescue work on the ground, as well as to Governor Andy Beshear’s relief efforts.
                                                                     DONATE HERE

If you have any questions, please contact Mindy Haas, Executive Director, at mindy@jewishlexington.org.

 


Around the World


Donate to the JNFA Campaign
Jewish Federations are responding, working with our core partners to support victims of terror, help rebuild damaged infrastructure, and address the unprecedent levels of trauma caused by this horrific attack. 
The URJ is participating in the campaign.
Donate Now

Israel at War: Call for Medical & Nursing Volunteers
Israel is at war. Many hospitals and clinics are overwhelmed and many medical personnel are being called up to serve in the army. Hospitals throughout Israel are desperate for volunteers to fill in the ranks. Anyone with a valid license in ISRAEL or a Western Country (US, Canada, EU) in medicine, nursing, nurse practitioner, and other critical credentials:  if you have time to volunteer please provide your contact info here so we can disperse to the relevant hospitals who may need you. 
Fill out form

Magen David Adom

Support Democracy in Israel:
Here is a list of organizations and their websites:
ARZA (Association of Reform Zionists of America): Arza.org
The Israel Religious Action Center: Irac.org
T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights: Truah.org

Your help is needed now more than ever to vital necessities to Jews in Ukraine, and to the tens of thousands of refugees in neighboring countries. 
Donate to JDC

MAZON a Jewish Response to Hunger is a national organization fighting to end hunger among people of all faiths and backgrounds in the United States and Israel.


Ways to Contribute in the Lexington Community


Make a Difference: Join Our Community Bed Project
Right now, children in our greater community are sleeping on floors without beds or even mattresses. This lack of a proper sleeping space can have serious, negative impacts on their health, well-being, and ability to learn. No child should face these circumstances, and we have an opportunity to change that.
This April, the Lexington Jewish Community is coming together to support children in- need by providing twin beds and bedding supplies for up to 10 children at Mary Todd Elementary School. Every child deserves a safe and comfortable place to sleep, and we have an opportunity to make a lasting impact.

How You Can Help:

  • Contribute: Your donation will help purchase twin beds, bedding, and other essentials.
  • Volunteer: Help transport, assemble, and set up beds to create a warm and welcoming space for these children.
  • Spread the Word: Share this project with your friends and family to increase our impact.

Guided by Jewish values like Tikkun Olam(repairing the world) and Chesed (loving-kindness), we are dedicated to making a meaningful difference. Together, we can ensure these children experience the comfort and security of a good night’s sleep.

Get Involved: Contact Brian Derer at brian.derer@gmail.com to volunteer or make an online contribution today!

Thank you for joining us in this act of kindness. Together, we are building not just beds, but brighter futures.

 

There are so many ways to contribute and volunteer your time in the Lexington area. Here are some suggestions:
 
1. The Bluegrass Community Foundation raises funds for local needs. Click here to donate.
 

2. The Hope Center provides comprehensive life-sustaining and life-rebuilding services that promote healing from substance use disorder, mental health disorders, and homelessness.
Ways to help:

  • Shop their Amazon Wishlist for items to be shipped directly to the center here.
  • Monetary donations can be made here.

3. Volunteer to pack and deliver meals for Meals on Wheels

4. Volunteer with Glean Kentucky, a Lexington based non-profit serving as the vital link between food waste and food insecurity. Watch this video and if you think you’d like to help, sign up to be a volunteer.

5. The Community Response Coalition of Kentucky (CRCKY), an entirely volunteer-run organization, helps provide community support to families negatively impacted by immigration enforcement. They provide COVID-19 assistance; rent and utilities assistance to people with life-threatening illness; community resources; legal services; and ICE detention services.

Volunteers are needed in the following positions:
– Intake Workers
– Food delivery personnel-9:00 am to 11:00 am on Saturdays. CRCKY is also about to enter into a new collaboration with Woodhill International Market. They will provide us with boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables. Volunteers are needed to pick up and deliver boxes of food from the Woodhill Community Center between 5:00 pm and 6:30 pm on Thursdays. We are very excited to add another source of fresh fruits and vegetables to our delivery roster, but we need volunteers to make this happen.
– Board members
– Bookkeeping
– Social media coordinators
– Volunteers to table at community events
– PR material translators (includes flyers, social media, etc.)​

To get involved, visit their volunteer page.

6. Please consider donating to the following organizations as they work to help those overcome food and medical insecurity:
God’s Pantry
Commonwealth Forgiveness Project (medical debt relief)

7.  Provide rides – ITNBluegrass, dignified transportation for seniors, seek generous, kind individuals to step forward to volunteer to drive. Candidates must be 23-79 years of age with good driving records. To find out more, visit www.itnbluegrass.org or call Executive Director Jennifer Gripshover at 859-421-0705.


8. Donate Blood

  • Kentucky Blood Center – Click here for more info or call 800-775-2522. 
  • The Red Cross – Click here to schedule a donation time.
 
Please note that TAI urges congregants who are at risk for contracting the COVID-19 virus to consult with their doctors about whether these opportunities are recommended.