Tov Vchesed

Tov V'Chesed, founded in 2003 by Rabbi Yaakov Eliezer Shisha drawing from his own childhood poverty in Israel, is an Orthodox Jewish international charity dedicated to ensuring no child endures hunger, shame, or deprivation. Rooted in values of dignity, kindness, and holistic support, it emphasises restoring emotional well-being alongside material aid for orphans and impoverished Jewish families, primarily in Israel. Its distinctive approach, shaped by the founder's personal story, prioritises stigma-free charity through volunteer-led operations, global fundraising, and programmes like monthly home-delivered food packages, emergency relief, holiday activities, and the Simcha Fund for bar mitzvahs and weddings, funding hundreds of orphans annually and supporting thousands of homes.

It targets vulnerable Jewish children, youth, families, the elderly, and ethnic groups aligned with Orthodox traditions, addressing poverty, food insecurity, social exclusion, religious education, and life-event gaps via direct aid, project funding, and partnerships with select charities or voluntary bodies—especially grassroots and medium-sized groups demonstrating acute need.

Unsolicited applications are not accepted; support is arranged via direct referrals, established connections, or internal assessment on a rolling basis with no deadlines or public processes—enquiries go through the organisation at its discretion. Typical grants to partners range £10,000–£90,000 (median ~£18,000), with smaller aid (£50–£10,000) for individuals; no income thresholds, but preference for smaller entities without geographic base restrictions, though impact centres on Israel.

Distinctive for its faith-exclusive focus, overhead restrictions, privacy-respecting model, and transformative "setting lives back in order" philosophy, it excludes capital projects, unrestricted funding, non-Jewish causes, and open competitions, favouring values-aligned, need-proven collaborations in Jewish humanitarian relief.