Tzedakah is a way of life in my family. Generations of my relatives have been presidents of shuls, Jewish foundations, local chapters of United Jewish Appeal, Israeli Bonds and many more organizations that are an integral part of the Jewish community. I started my Jewish community career as an AZA President in Washington, D.C. and later served as President of Argo Lodge B’nai B’rith. It’s something you don’t think about. You just do. Like eating or sleeping. Like my mother always devoted time to Hadassah, her shul and the Hebrew Home.

It is also notable that even though we live in a community that is 97% non-Jewish, virtually all of my friends and business acquaintances are Jewish. Many, maybe most, of those friends I know as a result of my activities in the Jewish community service organizations. Further, most of my financial success results from my relationships within the Jewish community. Therefore, contributing to and endowing the Jewish community is but one way to thank you for numerous wonderful friendships.

In the original edition of Nancy and my will and trust in 1977, I included B’nai B’rith. Each time we do an update, we update the charitable list. This time we will include the Jewish Community Foundation and UJF. That way our gifts can be of assistance to the Jewish community long after we’re gone. And, of course, we try to be generous donors while we’re here. As an estate planner recently told me: shrouds have no pockets.