New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
A rabbi has an idea: Give money to a stranger
HAMDEN — Rabbi Moshe Hecht is launching a kindness initiative using small, plastic arks that hold money, and he’s looking for local businesses to hop on board.
Through the initiative, businesses would distribute the branded yellow ARKS — “Acts of Random Kindness” — and people will fill them with change, and then pass them on to someone in greater need.
Although people can fill them with money all at once — or even use paper money — Hecht said there would something “beautiful” in it for everyone if those filling the ARKs put a little change or other money in each day.
“It has a much greater impact on the person giving if you start your day being kind to others,” said Hecht, co-director of Chabad of Hamden.
The ARKs hold varying amounts of money, depending on the denominations used, but Hecht said he’s heard they can hold as much as $40 to $60 in change.
Once full, the idea is to then hand them to a stranger, relative or friend less fortunate.
The purposes is to encourage people to be more “charitable.”
“Anyone can write a check, but that’s a one-time thing,” he said. “You’re doing this daily and that’s what I think is fantastic.”
Although good deeds, or mitzvahs, are central to Judaism, Hecht said there is no religious connection to the ARK initiative or to the use of an ark as the container.
Hecht said the initiative will launch in January 2022 for a month and they’re targeting the grocery store, pharmacy, bank and coffee shop industries to distribute the arks.
Thus far Shoprite, Liberty Bank and Webster Bank have joined the coalition, Hecht said.
Any business interested in participating can email Hecht at rabbi@jewishhamden.org.
“We feel that a new year and people looking for new resolutions and change could really work well for such a project,” Hecht said.
Hecht said the initiative is modeled after one rolled out by the Jewish community in South Africa that proved successful.
He said the idea also allows participants to put
“any differences aside, to positively impact the world.”
“Each act of goodness and kindness has infinite value, and we hope to empower every individual to do their part in making the world the best possible place,” Hecht said.