| October 6 marked eight years since my father passed away. That evening, Lori Ann and I hosted a gathering at our home for Temple Beth Shalom volunteers.
For those who may not know, my father was the synagogue’s founding president, and I was its very first bar mitzvah. I have often said that the synagogue was like a fifth child to him. He loved it, nurtured it, and devoted so much of his life to helping it thrive. As I looked around at those volunteers, I couldn’t help but feel that he was there with us. The institution he helped build was still bringing people together. On the anniversary of his death, we celebrated the very commitment to community that meant so much to him.
I have thought about that evening quite a bit.
Last night, I was humbled to receive the Generation Award from the Columbus Jewish News. As part of that recognition, I was asked which Jewish value has most influenced my life and leadership. My answer was l’dor v’dor, from generation to generation. Standing among those volunteers on October 6, I was reminded that l’dor v’dor isn’t simply something we talk about. It is something we live.
My parents and grandparents taught me that being part of a Jewish community comes with responsibility. You give your time and your treasure. You show up. You invest in something larger than yourself, not just because it means something to you today, but because you want it to be there for those who come after you.
And that brings me to something I hope each of you will consider.
Next week is National Estate Planning Awareness Week. It’s a chance to consider how we can keep supporting the people, institutions, and causes that matter most to us, even after we are gone.
Gordon and Donna Hecker offer a wonderful example. Gordon, former President and CEO of JewishColumbus, and Donna have spent years generously giving their time and resources. Following Gordon’s cancer diagnosis and treatment, they began thinking more intentionally about the lasting impact they wanted to make.
They decided to include JewishColumbus, Orr Shalom, and other organizations meaningful to their family in their estate plans, so the causes they love will continue to thrive.
Phil Weinerman, Chair of our JewishColumbus Foundation Committee, puts it beautifully: “If you love your children and your community, you will invest now and in the future so Jewish life in Central Ohio can thrive.”
A legacy gift does not have to be enormous. Whether through a will, a beneficiary designation, or an endowment, each of us can make a lasting difference.
Imagine what our Columbus Jewish community could become if hundreds of families made that commitment. Imagine the strength and security it could provide our synagogues, schools, agencies, and programs for generations to come.
If you haven’t yet considered including JewishColumbus and other Jewish institutions meaningful to you in your estate plans, I encourage you to talk with Lori Maier Wishne at JewishColumbus. She would welcome the opportunity to help you explore what a legacy gift could look like.
Thinking about the legacy we leave brings me back to that evening at our home.
My father wasn’t there to thank the volunteers. He wasn’t there to see the work they were doing or the friendships they were building. But everything he believed in was there. And I realized that perhaps the greatest legacy we can leave isn’t a building, a name on a plaque, or even the money we give. It is a community that continues to thrive because we cared enough to invest in its future. My father didn’t help build Temple Beth Shalom so people would remember him. He helped build it so Jewish life would continue.
We inherited a Jewish community because generations before us built it. The best way to honor them is to make sure the generations after us inherit one that is even stronger.
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