What is our Mission?

B’Tzedek aims to provide Israel with a leadership of thoughtful and pro-active citizens from all sectors of society. They will work with and for the marginalized, at-risk and resource poor through individual and joint action that creates change. They will strengthen the work of organizations, create social innovation and influence social policy. The core of this program is an unparalleled combination of hands-on involvement, leadership development and values education, all based on participants’ experience and a holistic learning model. Deeply rooted in Jewish and contemporary teachings, it is culturally sensitive when working with non-Jewish populations.

Why is this mission critical?

In a society that suffers from entrenched discrimination, marginalized populations, poverty, increasing violence and environmental degradation, Israeli teens spend their free time hanging out, playing sport, surfing the Web, and engaging in recreational activities. They do not connect to or understand the acute problems confronting their own community, and there is no one to help them do so. One day soon, these issues will be theirs to face and contend with. If they are to be successful, someone must groom a leadership sensitive to social justice and able to work towards a sustainable social fabric. B’Tzedek is designed to do just that.

When we realize our mission, what are the outcomes?

Through B’Tzedek, high-school students and young adults will turn into volunteers, social activists and social entrepreneurs. Seeing a thriving democracy and civil society as a necessary component in a contemporary vision of independent Jewish state, they will engage in critical local, national and international societal issues that Israelis today often overlook due to other pressures. The commitments, skills and deep sense of responsibility B’Tzedek’s participants acquire as teens and young adults will accompany them and influence them for life. In that sense, the work of B’Tzedek makes a current and ever-growing contribution to the social fabric of Israeli society and to the realization of a moral vision for renewed Jewish statehood in Israel.

What and who is B’Tzedek?

Founded and led by Yonatan Glaser, its Director, B’Tzedek develops vision-driven social leadership amongst youth and university students in Israel. B’Tzedek means ‘In and through Justice’. It also means ‘That’s right!’ in Hebrew slang. Operating within and with the help of Topaz, B’Tzedek is not itself a legal entity. Donations for B’Tzedek are actually granted to Topaz for the use of B’Tzedek and overseen by the Topaz Board. Given Topaz’s decentralized model for helping social entrepreneurs realize their vision, B’Tzedek is an independently managed and self-funded initiative. The shared intention of Topaz and B’Tzedek is that after 5 years (i.e. in another 4), B’Tzedek will go through an exit phase in which it will establish itself as an independent Israeli Amuta (Non profit organization). See also Leadership