In difficult times, give freely to assist others

“Do not separate yourself from the community.”

Written 2,000 years ago by Rabbi Hillel, these words ring true in today’s difficult times.

When Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, thousands of Atlantans stepped forward to open our homes and our wallets to help.

After the tsunami of 2006, the entire world responded, sending money, food and supplies to the victims of perhaps the world’s most massive natural disaster.

Today, Americans of all walks of life and income levels are facing a major economic disaster. As both unemployment and home foreclosure rates soar, more of our neighbors than ever are turning to local charities for help.

According to the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta, nearly 170,000 people are now unemployed in metro Atlanta, roughly 70,000 more than last year; 45,000 households are in foreclosure and 200 women and children are sleeping on the floor of the Gateway Center. In recent months, Jewish Family and Career Services has seen a 600 percent increase in requests for assistance. Every other local aid group has similar stories.

We hear heart-rending accounts of families facing eviction, of individuals with no money for groceries and of seniors watching their monthly incomes plummet with the stock market.

In difficult times like these, each of us is called to respond, to dig deeper into our pockets and give generously of our resources to help others.

We write checks to our local churches, mosques or synagogues for their emergency funds. We collect food for our community food banks, or we work with our community organizations to find a family that can share our home for a short period of time.

That was the case recently in the North Druid Hills area of DeKalb County when a senior citizen needed some extra income and was matched with a young couple who had lost their home to foreclosure. In this case, the Housemate Match program at the Marcus Jewish Community Center matched the couple with a senior citizen in the Toco Hills Naturally Occurring Retirement Community.

Now an elderly woman has some extra cash, some company in her home, and someone to drive her to doctor’s appointments. And, a young couple has some breathing room to find new jobs and permanent housing.

As we struggle through today’s economic challenges, nonprofits worry that contributions to fund charitable work will decline as we all tighten our belts. But consistently, it’s during the tough times that the strength and resilience of our community surfaces.

If history is any indicator, I believe that our fellow citizens will respond generously to help the most vulnerable among us.

Over the past 50 years, research shows that charitable giving has stayed constant or even increased during economic downturns.

Surveys this fall from other nonprofit groups show similar figures. Individuals, corporations and foundations continue giving throughout economic downturns, and in many cases actually give more in support of specific needs.

I have confidence in the generosity of the Atlanta community and believe that in spite of difficult times, our community will heed the call of the most vulnerable among us.

Rabbi Hillel urged us to remember those in need and not to separate ourselves from the community. He also wrote the following powerful challenge for these, and for all, times:

“If I am not for myself, who will be for me?

If I am not for others, what am I?

And if not now, when?”

• Steve Rakitt is president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.