The Aesthetic Sense Partners with Israeli Social Justice Venture Buy for Good, and it is all Good for the Soul

By Karen Akst Schecter

What better way to support some of the most vulnerable populations in Israel than by shopping? Buy for Good, an Israeli social justice venture, is a marketplace that helps you support Israelis of all religions, all ethnicities and all backgrounds in a new way. All of Buy for Good’s products are hand crafted by adults and children with physical, mental, emotional or developmental disabilities, at-risk youth or those from under-resourced communities.

They are employed by various workshops throughout Israel sponsored by nonprofit educational and vocational programs throughout the country. The endeavor nurtures talent, rewards perseverance, and bolsters the human spirit. These sponsoring organizations provide an environment that teaches skills, celebrates achievements, and builds confidence, self-esteem and self-respect.

Whether it is a candle, a child’s toy, housewares or Judaica, by purchasing an item crafted in workshops participating in the Buy for Good venture, you are buying an item that gives back: every purchase supports employment opportunities and job creation for those in need. Every purchase helps each of us to see a person’s abilities rather than disabilities and show respect for the artisan, celebrating with them their achievements. Each purchase helps these artisans acquire new skills and assists them as they integrate into the wider community where they can live full and productive lives.

The Buy for Good creation speaks as meaningfully to its buyer as it does about the hands from which it came. We are proud to provide these artisans with an outlet to showcase their work, their first opportunity to do so in the United States, and we are making certain that each piece is showcased with care and grace.

Currently, Buy for Good partners with 18 (Chai) separate organizations – 18 being the Jewish number to represent life! You can read about these organizations here.

We believe that goods for the soul are creations that have both beauty and spiritual meaning, that reflect our respect for all of our artisans, that allow us to give back.
Most important, they are goods that make us smile.