LEGACY Matters - Fall 2022

Matters

IMAGINE THE IMPACT YOU WILL HAVE

TAKING THE FIRST STEP

JEWISH CALGARY FOREVER

Working Together

Your Jewish community was established by a small group of individuals. Those humble beginnings have led to the vibrant, extensive communal infrastructure you enjoy and value today: places to gather for prayer and to come together in community, social service agencies meeting the needs of the vulnerable, schools and camps educating the next generation, and more. In our complex world, the words of the commentary above ring true.

When we work together, we can do more for more.

None of us can do it alone. That’s why we partner with you. Working together allows us to do more, achieve better results, share good ideas, and have much more fun along the way!

You are our partner in growing Jewish commitment. Your legacy gift is ensuring that treasured Jewish organizations continue to provide the programs and services that will engage future generations.

To date, 23,900 legacy donors from 72 communities across North America have committed $1.3 billion to the Jewish future. Thank you for being our partner in assuring Jewish tomorrows.

Harold Grinspoon, Founder Winnie Sandler Grinspoon, President

Winnie Sandler Grinspoon and Harold Grinspoon

Legacy team members, Jewish community of Central MA

Legacy donors, Temple Shaarei Shalom, Boynton Beach, FL

“A community is too heavy to carry alone.” — Deuteronomy Rabbah 1:10

Legacy team members, Jewish community of Tidewater, VA

Just Imagine the Impact You Will Have

LIFE & LEGACY STAFF

The phone rings.

“Shalom. I’m Maya, here to connect you with Jewish life in [insert your state here],” she says. “How can I be of service to you today?”

“My 29-year-old son just moved back here,” I say. “I was wondering if you can help connect him with other young Jewish people his age.”

“Mazel tov! How nice for you. We can certainly help connect him,” Maya says. “What is his name and number? I will have someone reach out to him this week with an invitation to Shabbat dinner.”

“Thank you, that would be lovely,” I reply. “Are there other opportunities you might connect him with?”

“Absolutely! Our local Jewish summer camps are starting a new initiative for young adults to bring their skills and talents to campers for short periods of time, and our education portal connects young adults with teaching, assisting, or tutoring opportunities,” she says. “Does he have a partner or spouse?”

“His fiancée isn’t Jewish, but she is interested in

learning more,” I say.

“They would be perfect for our interfaith family program, where they can explore their adult Judaism together and meet others. We are committed to happy families living meaningful Jewish lives,” Maya says.

Wow. I choke back tears, reassured that my son and future daughter-in-law will be warmly welcomed into the community. Maya continues, “Because of legacy donors, giving at all different levels, our community has the resources to connect individuals and families to any Jewish service they may want or need. Money is no barrier. I will reach out to them today.”

As I hang up the phone, I give thanks for the legacy donors whose commitment has led to a completely resourced Jewish community. q

Taking the First Step

ARLENE D. SCHIFF, SENIOR ADVISOR, LIFE & LEGACY

Stacy Gorelick and Risa Miller usually walk out the front door of the Charlotte Jewish Day School feeling joyous. As former CJDS parents and longtime lay leaders, they are continually energized and inspired when they observe students learning Jewish traditions and sharing a love for Israel as part of their school day. Today, however, was different.

Today, they learned from Gale Osborne, the school’s advancement director, that yet another middle-income family has decided to leave the school. This family loves being part of the CJDS community, but the burden of tuition for three children is just too much for them to manage. Unfortunately, this is an alltoo-familiar story.

Having sent their children to CJDS, the Gorelicks and the Millers know firsthand the important foundation a day school education provides in developing a child’s Jewish identity and in engaging families in Jewish life. With Stacy currently serving as president of the school, it was time to act. The school could no longer wait to make a CJDS education accessible to all Jewish children in the community.

For quite some time, Stacy and Risa had discussed this need with their husbands, Todd, and David. They had also brainstormed how to address it with Gale. They felt urgency to their mission. Each year that passes, families leave the school, and, due to cost, many others don’t even consider it a viable option. Inaction leaves scores of children and families without access to a quality Jewish and general studies education.

Stacy, Todd, Risa, David, and Gale got to work researching, reviewing, developing, and discussing different models that might fit the needs of CJDS families. They found inspiring solutions, but when they crunched the numbers, they realized they couldn’t commit all the resources needed to solve the problem.

They didn’t give up. They realized they didn’t need to do it alone. So, they

established the Affordability Fund to launch the initiative. Together, they committed to a combined $1 million endowment gift to CJDS.

The impact of establishing the fund has been tremendous. The profile of the school has been elevated in the community, and additional donors have already made commitments to the fund. The Gorelicks and the Millers are delighted that the school has additional resources to assist families for whom affordability is an issue. They are grateful that over time the fund will continue to grow through current gifts and future legacy commitments from others who value CJDS.

Once again, as they walk in and out of CJDS, Stacy and Risa feel that sense of joy. q

The Gorelick’s and Miller’s endowment gift was a necessary first step to address affordability.

Miller family (top), Gorelick family (center), CJDS students (bottom).

Changing the Future: Two People and One Opportunity

DIANA KALEF, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT, CALGARY JEWISH FEDERATION

Tears well in my eyes as I stand on the bimah of my synagogue on Kol Nidre, arms cradling a Torah scroll, looking out over a sea of faces of family and friends. I feel the presence of all those who came before me. I am filled with optimism that this dear place will continue to exist into the future.

I didn’t always feel this way. Year after year, in my role as director of development, I worried about how the Calgary Jewish Federation would meet our annual fundraising goals. And if we didn’t, how many parents could continue to bear the burden of an ever-escalating Jewish day school tuition? How many children would miss a beloved Camp BB summer experience? How many seniors would remain isolated because the JCC and Jewish Family Service (JFS) had to cut programming? Was I letting my children down? What kind of Jewish community would they have here in Calgary?

Two people and an opportunity changed my perspective. The father of my dear friend Donna (z”l ) passed away. Ted (z”l ) was a scion in our community — a generous funder, committed to Judaism and a Jewish future. Suddenly, he was gone, and others of his generation have sadly passed away too. His was the generation of Jewish Calgary builders, and it was uncertain if their children would take their places. The future wasn’t looking as bright as it once did.

Donna became my mentor. She taught me about endowments. “We must make sure Lions* endow their gifts!” She endowed her own Lion, showing by example

that this was a way to secure a Jewish future in Calgary. She got her friends to endow theirs. Others followed. I began to see that endowments were key to building for the next generation.

The opportunity to join the LIFE & LEGACY network came at just the right time. It was our chance to spread the message of endowments and legacy giving beyond the federation community. Now all our communal organizations are working together — day schools, synagogues, JFS, Federation/ JCC, Jewish Historical Society, and camp. Donors are stepping up. Our results are astounding. Legacy giving is integrated into the philanthropic culture of our community. Endowment building is a priority.

While perusing the exhibit panels from the Jewish Historical Society, my eye caught a photo of my son from a ski race. Another time, I saw a photo of my mom with her sorority sisters. Suddenly, I could see the line drawing the generations together — from my parents, through me, to my sons.

Two people and an opportunity. There is a bright future for Jewish Calgary! q

*Lions refer to Lion of Judah, a giving society of the federation system. Many women choose to endow their Lion, pledging an endowment gift 20 times their annual gift that maintains their support of the community in perpetuity.

(left to right): Donna Riback ( z”l ) and Diana Kalef, and Diana and her two sons, Jonah, and Micah

Why YOUR Legacy Matters to Me

DENA MORRIS KAUFMAN, LIFE & LEGACY COMMUNITY CONSULTANT

We each have experiences that shape our Jewish identity — generation to generation these experiences continue:

Synagogues that teach us about Judaism and make us part of a caring community.

JCCs where we play together as a family and find others to include in our lives.

Summer camp that brings Judaism to life in joyful and meaningful ways.

Trips to Israel bind us to Jews around the world and help us internalize Israel’s struggles and soaring successes.

Being married under a chuppah of love from our family and friends, and then raising our own children in a way that they can find their own Jewish identity.

In my work, I am inspired by the donors and volunteers who share their experiences and speak with me about what impact they want their legacy gift to have. Hearing their stories, I am reminded of the quote by Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, “Every individual is a pillar on which the future of Judaism rests.” I think of legacy donors as these pillars, and I proudly stand with them. I am honored to be part of this North American movement to ensure the future of Judaism.

Dena’s family (above from left): Randy, Ely, Dena, Josh, and Ben Kaufman and her mother, Judy Morris

From left: Rayna, Dena, Tammy and their father, Rabbi Herbert Morris ( z”l )

Echoing in my heart are these words (in quote above), written by my father, that remind me that we are caretakers who stand on the shoulders of those who come before us.

The Jewish people live in my heart, song and dance lighten my soul, prayer centers me, volunteers inspire my actions — my work nourishes all these and honors my parents and all who came before me. q

Your legacy gift honors the people who built what we enjoy and ensures that those who follow us will enhance what collective generations have built.

“My synagogue is of the ages, but for a little while, it is mine. It was my parents’ and their parents’ before them.”

— RABBI HERBERT MORRIS ( z”l )