Holidays are often a time of reflecting, sharing gratitude, making memories and coming together as a family. The spirit of giving that is central to the holidays can inspire conversations about tzedakah (charity), tikkun olam (repairing the world), and gemilut chasadim (acts of loving kindness). These meaningful conversations can create a space where charitable intentions can be nurtured, celebrated and transmitted to the next generation. Have you considered using this special time as an opportunity to engage in conversations about Jewish values and philanthropy?

A community volunteer recently shared a story of her first phone call at a Super Sunday event – a call that forever changed the way she looked at giving.

It’s a given that building a retirement nest egg is essential to achieving long-term financial stability. That’s why millions of Americans look to their individual retirement accounts (IRAs), 401(k)s, 403(b)s and pension plans to support their lifestyle in retirement. According to the most recent reported data, approximately 36.6 million U.S. households own traditional IRAs. In addition to its value as retirement savings tool, a traditional IRA is also a tax-smart resource for charitable giving and legacy planning.

Jill Miller Zimon grew up in Connecticut, and the town where she lived for the first 12 years of her life had just a handful of other Jewish families. Although she was in the minority, Jill always felt proud of her identity as a Jewish person.

When asked how she would like to be remembered, Noreen Koppelman-Goldstein carefully considered how to respond in a way that covered everything. For her, everything is her family AND her community.

Beth and Frank Rosenberg both grew up in Shaker Heights, but their paths did not cross until after college when a friend introduced them. Beth went to Shaker Heights public schools, and Frank attended the Joseph and Florence Mandel Jewish Day School (then Agnon), then Shaker Heights public schools for middle school onward. Both were active in youth groups, Beth in the North American Federation of Temple Youth Northeast Lakes Region (then NELFTY now NFTY NEL) and Frank in Betar. They each brought meaningful aspects of their Jewish values to their marriage and created a family together that combined their values of Jewish observance and community participation. To this day, the Rosenberg family (Frank’s four siblings and their families) has Shabbat dinner together every week.

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland announced today that Judy Immerman Payne is the 2023 recipient of the Irene Zehman Volunteer Award. Each year, the Federation recognizes a Jewish woman or group of women who demonstrate the highest ideals and practices of volunteer service on behalf of the Jewish and/or general community. Payne, founding executive director of Goods Bank NEO, was honored at the Federation’s Women IN Philanthropy MaIN Event on November 29.

Make the most of your year-end giving with some perennial, and some new, charitable planning tips.

Americans are a generous bunch, with 60% giving to charity annually according to many surveys. The Jewish community donates at even higher rates. However, fewer than 10% of wills and estate plans include a charitable bequest. Let’s consider some reasons people might have for this disconnect.