How to Incorporate Tzedakah into Your Babynaming
Use your simcha as an opportunity to share your joy with the greater community and to express an important value. This can be done in a variety of ways:
- Make a gift to a charity or charities of your choice equal to the numerical equivalent of your daughter's name. (Every Hebrew letter has a numerical equivalent–hence Abraham is 1+2+200+5+40 or $247.)You can find the numerical equivalence or gematria of every letter at this site: www.jewishpath.org
- Set up a mitzvah crib at your naming or in your synagogue. Ask people to bring toys, baby clothes, and children's books to donate to a needy organization, like a children's home or hospital.
- Invite your guests to make a gift to a charity of your choice in lieu of a baby gift. Consider appropriate choices like Planned Parenthood or Jewish Family and Children's Services.
See www.SocialAction.com for more ideas and links.
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