Shana tova! As some of you know, my birthday coincides with Rosh HaShanah this year. And since I’m turning 28, yes, a big number, I decided to do something big. I’ve gotten involved with Charity:Water, an amazing non-profit in NYC that raises money to fund clean water projects in developing countries. Each year they have their September campaign, where people around the world give up their birthdays and raise money for Charity:Water. This year’s proceeds will help fund clean water projects in Rwanda, which you can read more about on their site.

Since my birthday is on September 18th, coinciding with Rosh Hashana this year, where we pray to be inscribed in the book of life, I decided to mark an ambitious goal of raising $1,800. As you many know, 18 is a significant number, corresponding to the numeric value of chai, or life. Yes, I realize that $1,800 is a lot of money, but if we each chip in and donate $18 or multiples of 18, then $1,800 is not out of reach. And hopefully by donating the value of chai, life, we can help save lives.

You may notice that in my picture I am holding two jerry cans filled with 80 pounds of water. With these in hand, I did the “waterwalk”, a downsized scale of what the women and children in Rwanda walk for hours every day, up and down mountains, just to collect water from rivers.

And the worst part? The water they collect is contaminated and can make them really sick. Terrible right? Well, we can actually do something about it. Just $65 can give someone in Rwanda clean water.

So I'm asking everyone for $18 or multiples of 18 in donations.

The best part is that 100% of the money we raise will directly fund water projects in Rwanda, and when those projects are complete, Charity: Water will send us photos and GPS coordinates so we can see the impact we made. Thanks!

Jesse