When it comes to giving to others, any amount that you can afford to give is welcome and helpful. But even Ira Riklis, who’s been fortunate to have enjoyed great success in his business ventures, knows that the need that exists in this world is far greater than any one individual can fill. For that reason, and others, he considers it important to also consider the symbolism behind his donations.
One example of this is his practice of generally making donations in some multiple of eighteen dollars. Why? The habit is steeped in the ancient Hebrew tradition of Gematria—a system of assigning numerical values to words or phrases. This system evolved as a way to study and validate Holy texts. While Ira Riklis leaves these complex calculations to others, he, like most Jews, knows that the number eighteen represents the word Chai, which means “life” in Hebrew. So even in instances when he can only give a small donation, he gives eighteen dollars in appreciation of the gift of life.