We have just completed two years as a foundation. They were interesting beginnings. I had no idea that it might be difficult to give away money. Not that there was a lack of worthy causes. Just choosing which of these worthy causes to support in a meaningful way required some hard choices. One of our decisions this year was to contribute mainly to smaller local organizations, where our money might make more of a difference.

During the last year we have come to realize that intercultural understanding is intimately related to empathy, accepting the otherness in others. With this in mind we have tended to support organizations that work towards empathy and fight against bullying. We have also realized that the issue of bullying is connected to domestic violence. False power plays can easily end in violence. If these lessons can be learned early and in creative ways, violence need not develop. We hope that our contributions to these organizations will bear fruit in the future.

Internationally, we have sponsored a college scholarship for a student from a residential school in India and contributed to a fundraiser for a high school in Senegal.

Of course, we could not sit idly by when the superstorm hit the East Coast. Equally, the Statesman’s Season for Caring could not be ignored. Emergency contributions went to both causes.

We look forward to a year of active involvement in 2013. Some of our projects may become continuing multi-year projects, others may remain experiments that we would not want to repeat.

Happy holidays and a fruitful and peaceful New Year!

Paz, shanti, Frieden, salaam, shalom, peace!