Shaping your impact

What is a legacy? It is the passing down of a memory.

Dr. William Finkelstein’s $2.3 million bequest to the Foundation of Jewish Communities of Western Connecticut was initially celebrated as a financial memorial. But as the ethical and moral dimensions of his gift are being explored by the Foundation’s Grants and Allocations Committee, it is becoming clearer that his memory will be honored beyond the size of his financial gift.

Dr. Finkelstein did not just give his money to gain a tax advantage for his estate. The conditions that came with the bequest demand that the Foundation remember Jews who are needy and needy Jewish organizations throughout the Federation’s service area.

In an area of wealth, in the richest state per capita in the country, Dr. Finkelstein’s legacy is the ancient Jewish one of “Zachor,” of remembrance. The needy are still with us, and we must respond. As a result of his generosity, and sense of “Zachor,” our community is better able to help those in need.

His bequest is not the only legacy that requires helping the needy. The Traurig Trust now estimated at $1 million, calls for helping the needy not only in this area, but also elsewhere in the country. The gift itself is in money, but the legacy is an ethical and moral one.

Large bequests can make a significant difference in whom and how the Foundation and Federation can serve, but smaller bequests can also have an impact too.

The Foundation has dozens of funds that benefit a wide variety of people and programs, here at home, across the world, and in Israel. All of these are, or will be, legacies that reach beyond the financial and leave positive moral and ethical results.

Please consider the ways that you want to leave your legacy, and then call us.

We will be happy to discuss the various ways that you can define your legacy–financial, ethical, and moral–in terms that will have great meaning and impact to you and for the Jewish community.