Bet Tzedek—The House of Justice

By David Bubis

An internationally recognized force in poverty law, Bet Tzedek’s free legal and social services secure life’s necessities-housing, health care and employment-for Los Angeles’ most vulnerable residents.

Founded in 1974 by community leaders who sought to act upon a central tenet of Jewish law and tradition, “Tzedek, tzedek tirdof – justice, justice you shall pursue.” This doctrine decrees that it is the duty of all people to advocate the just cause of the poor.  Consistent with this teaching, each year, Bet Tzedek helps over 15,000 low-income Angelenos of every racial and religious background achieve equal access to justice – all at no cost to the recipients.

Bet Tzedek’s approach of delivering the types of programs most needed for any given economic or political environment is a hallmark of its operation.  Leveraging the capabilities of thousands of dedicated pro bono volunteers creates a remarkably cost-effective way of delivering much needed legal, legislative and advocacy services.

The video below is an example of how Bet Tzedek helps those in need.  Elena is one of an estimated 20,000 human trafficking victims in the United States.  She is free today because of the advice of a heroic college student, who convinced her to call Bet Tzedek for help.

The Justice Ball provides essential funding and support so that Bet Tzedek can advocate for those who, like Elena, face incredible challenges and hardships. To learn more and support Bet Tzedek, visit www.bettzedek.org.

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