BJH: Tell us about yourself, Moshe.
Moshe Meystel: I grew up in Chicago, where I attended Skokie Yeshiva and Ohr Sameach in Israel. After that, I attended Rabbi Zucker’s Yeshiva (Brooklyn) and received my BTL and at night went to Seton Hall University for an MBA degree. Instead of doing my internship, I moved to Baltimore in 2013 to help with the JewHab Summer Program as the Director of Moving & Construction for Lev Shlomo (now Ahavas Chaim). Not long afterwards, I met my wife, Shoshi in Baltimore and our family settled down in Baltimore. I’m also an original member of Rabbi Duvi Rubin’s shul, Ohr Yisroel.
BJH: What do you do professionally?
MM: I run a commercial real estate business that manages properties throughout Maryland. I’m fortunate to have an amazing team around me, composed of great people from the Baltimore community.
BJH: How did the idea for BeMore Giving come about?
MM: I’ve always looked for ways to do chesed for the community and have been involved in various initiatives. In May 2022, after feeling inspired at the Yarchei Kallah in Israel with my friend Menachem Khoshkheraman, we immediately committed to launching this project. By January 2023, we had formed a board, created foundational elements, and launched BeMore Giving. We have now built a website and are ready to go!
BJH: Can you summarize how BeMore Giving works?
MM: BeMore Giving allows individuals to contribute $1 to $5 daily (paid in monthly increments). These contributions are pooled together and distributed to various local charities each day. The goal is to make giving accessible to everyone, ensuring that 100% of the donations go directly to the charities. This way, even small daily donations can collectively create a significant impact in our community.
BJH: How can someone get involved and donate?
MM: Getting involved is simple! Just visit BeMore.Giving and choose your preferred daily donation amount. You can set it up to donate automatically or make manual contributions whenever you like. Every donation, no matter the size, helps support local charities and strengthens our community.
BJH: What does “BeMore” represent?
MM: “BeMore” signifies both Baltimore and the spirit of being more generous. It encourages a culture of giving locally- and giving daily.
BJH: Who can participate in BeMore Giving?
MM: Anyone can give! It’s an opportunity to guarantee the giving of tzedakah on a daily basis- what a great zechus! You can also donate as a gift to a Bar Mitzvah bochur or as a wedding gift, making your contribution even more meaningful.
BJH: What is your ultimate goal for BeMore Giving?
MM: Our goal is to foster achdus (unity) and continue to make Baltimore synonymous with generosity, enhancing the community and making it even better. Our tag line is Every Day. Every Dollar. Ever lasting Impact.
BJH: How does BeMore Giving work in terms of funding?
MM: All funds are distributed to local charities, ensuring that donations remain within our community. If there’s a national organization, we earmark the funds for its local branches. Organizations can apply for a one-year grant, which our board reviews annually, alongside any inquiries from our Vaad Harabanim to ensure the process is transparent and accountable.
BJH: Do any Rabbanim endorse BeMore Giving?
MM: Yes! We have endorsements from respected Rabbanim such as Rabbi Hopfer, Rabbi Eichenstein, Rabbi Silber, Rabbi Goldberger, Rabbi Kaplan, and Rabbi Rubin, among others. The endorsement letter is on our website with more endorsements coming soon.
BJH: How can someone become a daily giver?
MM: Visit BeMore.Giving and click ‘Become a Giver.’
