Introduction
Jewish Helping Hands is a United States-based nonprofit and grantmaking organisation that assists vulnerable and marginalised communities in the United States and other countries.
Also legally identified as the Yad Soffin Foundation–Jewish Helping Hands, the organisation applies the Jewish values of tzedakah—charitable justice—and tikkun olam—repairing the world—to practical humanitarian and community-development projects.
Jewish Helping Hands supports grassroots initiatives addressing education, food, shelter, water, healthcare, women’s empowerment, gender equality and economic opportunity. Its work has reached communities in Israel, Rwanda, Cambodia, Uganda, Kenya, Vietnam, Haiti and the United States.
History and Background
Jewish Helping Hands was established in 2005 by Rabbi Joel E. Soffin, a rabbi and social activist with extensive experience supporting poor and vulnerable communities.
Before establishing the organisation, Rabbi Soffin participated in humanitarian and community projects involving:
- Refugee resettlement in the United States.
- Housing and food assistance for homeless people.
- Livelihood support in El Salvador.
- Assistance for Jewish communities in Argentina and Ukraine.
- Meals for Ethiopian Jewish children.
- Education and rebuilding programs following disasters.
Jewish Helping Hands was created after Rabbi Soffin’s retirement from congregational service, enabling him to continue this international social-action work.
In 2012, the organisation launched its Tikkun Olam Grant Program. The program extended its approach by providing funding to grassroots organisations developing practical solutions for underserved communities.
Mission and Purpose
Jewish Helping Hands is committed to advancing justice, righteousness and charitable action throughout the world. Its central goal is to help vulnerable people obtain the basic necessities required for a safe and dignified life.
Its principal objectives are to:
- Support overlooked and marginalised populations.
- Provide food, water, shelter, clothing, healthcare and education.
- Promote women’s empowerment and gender equality.
- Encourage self-help and community ownership.
- Strengthen grassroots organisations.
- Create sustainable economic opportunities.
- Develop partnerships with local communities.
- Inspire participation in Jewish social justice and humanitarian action.
The organisation favours projects that listen to local people and treat beneficiaries as partners in improving their lives.
Governance and Structure
Jewish Helping Hands operates as a US tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisation. It is governed by officers, an advisory board and a grantmaking committee.
Its leadership includes:
- Rabbi Joel E. Soffin, Founder and President.
- Michael Friedman, Vice President and Secretary.
- Phylis Sapherstein, Corresponding Secretary.
- Ronni Pressman, Treasurer and Webmaster.
The Grantmaking Committee reviews funding applications and helps select projects that align with the organisation’s priorities.
Jewish Helping Hands uses a relatively small and community-oriented structure. Public nonprofit records indicate that it operates without full-time employees, helping it focus resources on programs and grants.
Funding and Grants
Jewish Helping Hands is financed primarily through charitable donations, grants and philanthropic contributions. As a tax-exempt nonprofit, it can receive tax-deductible donations from eligible US donors.
Public nonprofit records identify its legal name as Yad Soffin Foundation–Jewish Helping Hands and its Employer Identification Number as 20-3931109.
Tikkun Olam Grant Program
The Tikkun Olam Grant Program was launched in 2012 to support organisations serving vulnerable populations.
For the 2026–27 cycle, priority themes included:
- Women’s empowerment.
- Education.
- Food and nutrition.
- Shelter.
- Clothing.
- Clean water.
- Health.
- Internet connectivity.
- Gender equity.
Geographic priorities included:
- East Africa.
- Central America.
- North America.
- Israel.
- Impoverished Jewish communities worldwide.
Jewish Helping Hands has indicated that applications for the 2026–27 grant cycle are now closed.
Applicant Preferences
The organisation generally prefers:
- Grassroots and community-based organisations.
- Organisations with annual operating budgets below US$750,000.
- Projects using local knowledge and resources.
- Initiatives serving overlooked populations.
- Programs that promote self-help and empowerment.
- Projects that would be difficult to implement without its support.
- Organisations that cooperate with local communities and other partners.
Funding Restrictions
Jewish Helping Hands does not fund:
- General overhead or administrative salaries.
- Capital campaigns.
- Political campaigns.
- Scholarships or fellowships.
- Programs administered by for-profit entities.
- Conference registration, travel or related expenses.
The organisation requires grant funding to be used entirely for the approved program. Applicants should review the current guidelines because priorities and application dates may change.
Major Programs and Initiatives
Jewish Helping Hands Digital Learning Center
The Jewish Helping Hands Digital Learning Center opened in Kigali, Rwanda, in 2022 through a partnership with MindLeaps.
The centre includes:
- 20 laptop computers.
- Internet access.
- A projector and digital camera.
- Modern classroom and teaching materials.
Approximately 100 children are expected to participate in digital-skills courses annually. Students learn typing, internet use, résumé preparation and website development.
Many participants come from highly vulnerable backgrounds and have had little or no previous access to computers. The program improves their educational opportunities and future employability.
Support for Rwandan Genocide Widows
Jewish Helping Hands has worked with AVEGA, the Association of Genocide Widows, to assist women affected by the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
Support has helped women meet needs related to:
- Food and clothing.
- Utilities and solar energy.
- Healthcare and medicines.
- Housing repairs.
- School expenses.
- Small businesses and savings groups.
- Emotional and social support.
The program combines direct assistance with livelihood development and community-based savings initiatives.
MindLeaps Education Programs
Jewish Helping Hands has supported several MindLeaps programs for vulnerable children and families in Rwanda and Uganda.
These include:
- School sponsorships.
- Meals and sanitation supplies.
- Digital education.
- Family-strengthening groups.
- Assistance for children in refugee camps.
- English clubs and computer training.
- Dance-based cognitive and social-emotional learning.
The Family Strengthening Program directly supports approximately 100 parents and affects around 600 family members annually.
Education in Cambodia
Since 2009, Jewish Helping Hands has supported education in Prek Kroch Village, Cambodia.
Its assistance has included:
- Construction and operation of a middle school.
- Teacher and nurse salaries.
- Computers and classroom equipment.
- A school library.
- Water filtration and electricity.
- Uniforms, bicycles and school supplies.
The middle school has served more than 200 students in grades seven to nine. Earlier support also helped create a school building designed to serve hundreds of students through multiple teaching shifts.
Women’s Economic Empowerment
Jewish Helping Hands funds vocational training, financial education and small-business development for women.
Examples include:
- Sewing and tailoring training in Rwanda.
- Start-up support for young women entrepreneurs in Uganda.
- Financial-literacy training for Ethiopian women in Israel.
- Tools and equipment for women completing vocational programs.
A financial-education project in Israel worked with 28 women. All participants reported gaining knowledge for dealing with banks and making financial decisions, while 95% reported increased self-confidence.
Food and Humanitarian Assistance
The organisation supports projects providing food and essential supplies to people experiencing poverty, displacement or homelessness.
Funded work has included:
- School meals for children in Jerusalem.
- Food and basic supplies for homeless people and asylum seekers in Chicago.
- Food packages for Bedouin communities in Israel.
- Meals for vulnerable children in Rwanda.
- Food, rent and tuition for children in an Ugandan orphanage.
- Humanitarian supplies for people affected by conflict and displacement.
Water, Agriculture and Health
Jewish Helping Hands has supported projects that connect basic services with long-term community development.
Examples include:
- Solar-powered irrigation for farmers in Kenya.
- Clean-water initiatives in Haiti.
- Construction of girls’ toilets at a secondary school in Uganda.
- Medical supplies for Ukraine.
- Adult diapers and caregiver education for low-income home-hospice patients in rural Kenya.
- Nutrition assistance for mothers and children in Rwanda.
These projects address immediate needs while improving health, dignity, education and livelihood security.
Impact and Examples of Work Funded
Jewish Helping Hands has supported major long-term projects in Israel, Rwanda and Cambodia, along with smaller grants in several other countries.
Recent examples include:
- A US$5,000 grant for solar-powered irrigation equipment benefiting rural farmers in Kenya.
- A US$5,000 grant for girls’ sanitation facilities at a secondary school in Uganda.
- A US$7,000 grant supporting meals for schoolchildren in Jerusalem.
- Support for digital education reaching approximately 100 children annually in Rwanda.
- Assistance that helped a Rwandan sewing program reach 100 women.
- Funding for food, rent and education benefiting 55 children at an orphanage in Uganda.
- Support for a project distributing 3,600 packs of medical adult diapers to home-hospice patients in Kenya.
The organisation’s grants are generally small in comparison with those of large foundations. However, its strategy is to direct targeted funding toward locally managed projects where a modest grant can produce measurable results.
Conclusion
Jewish Helping Hands is a Jewish humanitarian and grantmaking organisation that supports vulnerable communities through grassroots partnerships and practical assistance.
Founded in 2005, it combines the values of tzedakah and tikkun olam with programs addressing education, healthcare, clean water, food security, women’s empowerment and economic development.
Its Tikkun Olam Grant Program prioritises smaller organisations working closely with local communities. By restricting grants to direct program expenses, Jewish Helping Hands seeks to ensure that its funding reaches the intended beneficiaries.
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