Following the festivities of American Thanksgiving and consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, today is #GivingTuesday, a day dedicated to giving back to the community. Founded in 2012 in the US by the 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation, it has grown into an international movement.

Taking place on the first Tuesday after American Thanksgiving, #GivingTuesday is an opportunity to combat the commercialism that has come to characterize the season. Participants are encouraged to give of their time, money or resources to any charitable organization. “This past Thursday was a day of giving thanks, Friday and Monday were days of getting deals, today is the global day of giving back,” said Rabbi Tuly Weisz of Israel365 and Breaking Israel News.

According to the Israeli charity group IsraelGives,  GivingTuesday in 2013 raised over one million shekels (nearly $265,000 US) which was contributed online that day. Thanks to Giving Tuesday “we have created a revolutionary change in end-of-year giving culture in Israel,” IsraelGives CEO Ben-Dor told the Jerusalem Post at the time.

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