At age 56, a head injury from a car accident ended and rendered my 6 days a week as CPA totally without structure. TBE availed me of a weekly choir practice, soon, thereafter, the weekly Tuesday AM Bookie group meeting, frequent Shabbat services, Board of Directors meetings, followed by weekly Judaism classes and “Inquiring (senior) Minds”.

In addition to the Jewish learning and the spiritual enrichment which Temple Beth Emet activities have afforded me, in addition to the friendships and comradeships I have made along the way, I have welcomed Temple Beth Emet, as, in effect, my home away from home for more than 20 years.

For these reason, I am very eager and very proud to participate in the Temple Beth Emet Life and Legacy program. It in my intent that this gift will help insure that Temple Beth Emet will continue to provide to the community the religious, education, social, and humanitarian environment it has so nobly and generously provided over the past 40+ years.

I moved to south Florida from Israel in 1980, and after working for FP&L I realized my life needed more purpose. In 1987 I drove by

what we now know as the DPJCC, and knew I had found my calling! It is important to me and my family to connect with the Jewish community. My two sons, Ron and Michael, grew up in the J. In fact, Michael was in the first preschool graduation class. It is at the J, together as a family, that we received an excellent Jewish education and established our Jewish roots. My two grand- daughters, Ava and Emily, finished preschool at the J and now

come every day for after-school care, and absolutely love coming to summer camp. The David Posnack Jewish Community Center gives our family an excellent Jewish connection, and it is where I have been happily employed for over 30 years. I gave to the J because I know that the DPJCC is the center of Jewish life in Broward County, and it is important to continue to connect our Jewish community.

Although I have only been a member of Temple Bat Yam of East Fort Lauderdale for two years, I am a 21-year resident of the Fort Lauderdale area and have been active in local Jewish organizations since I moved here from Boston, MA. In 2001.

I was attracted to the LIFE & LEGACY initiative of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation right from the beginning. Being a single retiree in my mid-60’s I opted to fund my legacy gift via a single life annuity Charitable Remainder Trust. This program  pays me money now in my retirement, and the balance of the account is placed in a fund at my death with the annual income from this asset perpetually donated to Temple Bat Yam of East Fort Lauderdale.

Given how invested our family was in the Reform Jewish community of my youth, I am proud to be a part of this vitally important funding mechanism for the only Reform Temple community of the East side of Fort Lauderdale.

I became part of the J in September of 2012.  As a child, my family was involved with the JCC in South Miami, and my niece and nephew attended the David Posnack Jewish Day School.  I strongly believe that it takes the hard work and effort of all of our board members, executives, lay leaders, volunteers members and employees to make our J as successful as it is.  I also strongly believe that no matter what position you hold, we are all equally important to the success and growth of our organization.  This is why I pride myself on always helping our employees wherever I can.  It is the little things that we do for each other every day that matters the most.  Richard Branson said it best, “When you take care of your employees, they will take care of your clients.”  It is my pleasure to extend a hand to those who need my help, and my priority is always to make sure that our employees are re-minded daily of our appreciation of them and their hard work.  I have built many special relationships and friendships over the years here at the J and have been blessed in many ways by this organization. I am simply thankful and grateful.

As a lay leader of the David Posnack JCC, I welcomed the opportunity for our center to participate in the Grinspoon Foundation's Life and Legacy program which has provided proven support and training to help Jewish organizations across North America secure pre-planned after-life gifts to build endowments. I believe that the connection between an agency’s past, present and future should be a continuous upward journey. Funding to ensure the life of the organization for now and for future generations is essential to long-term thriving.  A legacy gift is a meaningful way to step up to the plate as a leader and be a part of this impactful process.

As passionate supporters of Temple Beth Emet, my wife and I made the heartfelt decision to bequeath funds to the Life & Legacy program. Our choice was driven by a deep appreciation for the vital role this institution plays in fostering a vibrant and inclusive Jewish community.  Temple Beth Emet has been our spiritual home for many years, providing us with a nurturing environment to practice and celebrate our faith. We have witnessed firsthand the profound impact of their programs, educational initiatives, and compassionate outreach efforts on individuals of all ages.  The Life & Legacy program stood out to us as an exceptional opportunity to leave a lasting legacy for future generations. By designating a portion of our estate to this program, we aim to ensure the continuity of the temple's mission and its ability to serve the community with unwavering dedication.  We firmly believe in the power of philanthropy and the importance of investing in organizations that align with our values. Choosing to support the Life & Legacy program at Temple Beth Emet was a natural decision for us, driven by our desire to create a lasting impact and contribute to the strength and longevity of our beloved community.

As a donor to the David Posnack Jewish Community Center and other charitable organizations, I am attempting to have my parents remembered for their deeds, accomplishments and heart.

They, more than anyone else, taught me the importance of character, integrity and helping others; and through their hard work and sacrifices, provided me the education I would need for my future.

My father died unexpectedly before I was mature enough to realize and understand what he had tried to do for the benefit of his family and our entire community. I truly wish that when I was younger, I could have been wiser to understand his role as a patriarch — what he did for me, my family, the Jewish community and the community-at-large.

My mother was the educator, protector and the tie that bound our entire family: grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins and friends. Everyone came to her for advice, compassion or just to listen to her wisdom. If born in a later generation, mom would have been not just a matriarch, but a leader of all.

I know my parents would be proud of their son, knowing that I am now participating with numerous legacy programs that will benefit the Jewish community and other organizations to honor them, Leon and Lillian Chesler, the two most important persons I have known.

Our family joined Temple Beth Emet in 2008 and we were welcomed by everyone immediately. Our children have grown up in the schools, summer camps and have had their Bat/Bar Mitzvahs and attended Confirmation here.  TBE is our family and it has given us a spiritual connection of acceptance and support.  Some of our closest friendships started at Temple Beth Emet.  The Life and Legacy program is a natural place for us to designate a portion of our estate to ensure the lasting legacy for future generations. We want to do our part in making sure Beth Emet will thrive in our community for many years to come.  Our family is heavily involved with philanthropy and our children know the importance of investing in organizations in need.  And TBE is at the top of our list!

We believe in the power of endowed giving as part of a plan for a strong and vibrant future for our community and for the Jewish people. We’re proud to participate in The Young Israel of Hollywood – Fort Lauderdale Life & Legacy Endowment.

We built the DPJCC in the 1980s for our children; I became president in the 1990s in order to build a stronger JEWISH community; I create a legacy now for the future Jewish generations of Broward County. May we continue to go from strength to strength.

Through my years of volunteering, annual financial commitments and my “Legacy Gift,” my family & I stay involved ensuring Temple Beth Emet will be here for future generations. Together, we can leave a legacy, achieve L’dor V’dor, and keep the spirit of Temple Beth Emet thriving by making a Legacy Gift.

I have been a part of the David Posnack JCC Family since the beginning and have fond memories. My parents have been very involved.   My father was president of the J from 1986-1988 and my family donated the Orlove Auditorium. I feel very strongly about my Jewish heritage which my parents and grandparents instilled in me.

Life and Legacy is important to me, because of my children and my children’s children.  Temple Beth Emet is a huge part of my family’s life, and I would like to ensure that it will continue on into the next generation.

What will our legacy be? What are we passionate about? What about the Synagogue?

We included TBTST in our wills. The honest truth is that the recognition needs to go to each of you. You always greet us when we are here. We always feel welcomed and loved by each of you. We feel like we are paying it forward. Love is inclusive of everyone. And that is the Jewish way.

As a past President, I felt I made a difference-especially during the merger of 2 Conservative Synagogues in Broward County. My love for Torah increases my passion for Judaism. I love learning about being Jewish and our long history of Judaism. All of this sounds so simple. My message to you is that if you find something you are passionate about, leave a lasting legacy. We did at TBTST. Together we can make a difference in our future. It takes a village.

The Rothschilds have had the unique opportunity of being a committed part of the J family since its inception in the early 1980s, when Ron served as the JCC's first president. Today, with many campaigns under our belt and many more in our future, a fabulous facility loved and utilized by thousands, programs for all ages and abilities and a huge community presence, we beam with pride.

Now everyone has the chance to take a meaningful role in the J's future. We invite you to join us as participants in the Life & Legacy program. Your involvement and generosity will ensure the continuation and growth of our J, which has been and will continue to be, a cornerstone for our local Jewish community.

Our family became part of the Temple Beth Emet community in 2011 and were welcomed with open arms and hearts. Our children have grown up in the schools, camps and youth groups here. We are two people intensely dedicated to successful Jewish continuity. We are Jewish professionals, we are parents to three teenagers whom we raise steeped in the values of our tradition and we are humans, always traveling on our own personal Jewish journeys. Our wish for the Jewish community of the future is that it is one where all feel welcome and served, and all feel pride in its existence and responsibility toward its success. We choose to make this legacy gift to do our part in ensuring that Beth Emet is around for many generations to come. May it always be a place of innovation, Jewish exploration and special connections.

I moved to Hollywood, Florida as a single mother in 1989 to begin a new life and career with the South Broward Jewish Federation as the Women’s Division’s Executive Director.  I had one cousin and one friend, both who lived in Kendall and a brother and sister-in-law who were “snowflakes” in Boca. My shul and my community were important to me and my family in Teaneck New Jersey.  Rabbi Feldman was my rabbi in New Jersey and he called Rabbi Davis at the Young Israel of Hollywood/Fort Lauderdale to make an introduction.  My family and I were welcomed immediately.  My son went to Hebrew Academy in Miami Beach and his friends’ parents became my friends and are my good friends today.  I married a father of one of my son’s friends from the Hebrew Academy 28 years ago.  The Young Israel gave our family a home.  The Young Israel has given many families a home in this community.  My husband Jerry and I made an easy decision to leave a legacy to our shul.  It’s not a huge legacy, but it makes a statement that we want this shul to be here for generations to come.  We am blessed and we know others are as well.

I created my legacy gift to the David Posnack Jewish Community Center so that my deep commitment to Holocaust memory will continue as a central focus of our center. In this way I honor my immediate family and all survivors of the Holocaust. By coming together as a community we continue to continue.

Growing up in Atlanta in the 60’s and 70’s one could always find me either at the AJCC (Atlanta Jewish Community Center) or in the summers at Camp Coleman (UAHC) in Cleveland, GA.  I enjoyed the sports and BBG and the Jewish community in a city that was not known at that time for having a lot of Jews.  My parents made donations to both the AJCC and Camp Coleman.  They wanted to insure there would be a place for their kids to go and meet other Jewish kids and feel safe.  I felt so proud to see our family name on a plaque by one of the doors when I walked by.   We were not a very religious family, however, I did learn all the Jewish songs, prayers and traditions through Camp Coleman……I made lifelong friendships at both the AJCC and Camp Coleman. Times change and South Florida in the 21^st century is very different than Atlanta in the 1960’s and 70’s!  However, the seeds were sewn and I felt the responsibility and need to do my part by donating not only today, but by also leaving legacy gifts to the two places that mean the most to me and helped to shape my childhood.  My kids attended and participated in activities at the David Posnack JCC and they all went to Camp Coleman when they were younger.  I want to help insure the future of these beautiful places  in hopes of having my grandkids also attend and make forever friends like I did. My kids feel the same pride that I once did when they walk through the DPJCC and see our family name by the racquetball courts.  It is a reflection of our values to give back to help others, to connect with people and be part of a greater community through educational, social, recreational and cultural programs.  We are proud to be members of the DPJCC and hope to stay involved for many many years to come.

I grew up with very little Jewish learning and few Jewish connections. Looking back, there was always a void in my life; I just did not know what it was. Fast forward to the present: I feel so privileged to live in Broward County, where my synagogue, my JCC, and Jewish learning are part of my daily life and now part of my DNA! This is not something that is available everywhere, and we cannot take it for granted. We must continue to provide our children and grandchildren with educated, engaged, forward-thinking Jewish communities. My husband, Jim, and I are thrilled to be Life and Legacy donors.

I've had the pleasure of working for the Young Israel of Hollywood-Ft. Lauderdale for over 20 years. It's been my 2nd home. I've been in Jewish Communal work for over 30 years. When I heard about Life & Legacy and what the Harold Grinspoon Foundation was trying to accomplish to guarantee a Jewish tomorrow, I knew we had to get involved. There is nothing I wouldn't do to see that my beloved synagogue and its members remains a strong and integral part of the Broward Jewish Community at large. Being a part of LIFE & LEGACY means we will be around for our children and our children’s children.

Why leave a LIFE & LEGACY gift? We all ask ourselves, how do we want to be remembered? I want to be remembered by family, friends and colleagues as a very helpful and caring individual who people enjoy spending time with and sharing different life experiences. But when I think how I want to be remembered by my community. I am not sure. But I do think it is important to leave something behind for the good of the cause; to be impactful to others and to know in my legacy made a difference in perpetuity.

I joined Legacy Society because Temple Dor Dorim is true to our mission in serving as a Beit T’filah, a Beit K’nesset, and a Beit Sefer - a House of Worship, a House of Congregating, and a House of Study. Our investment in TDD will ensure its strength throughout the generations.

We joined Legacy Society because we believe that Temple Dor Dorim is not just to serve our needs while we are here. Our hope is that after we are gone, Temple Dor Dorim will continue to be a viable Jewish link for future generations.

In our first 20 years with our Temple family, we celebrated holidays, simchas, inscribed a new Torah, dedicated the new library, and rejoiced as our grandchildren become b’nai mitzvah, along with four generations of our own family. Each generation has left their own legacy for the next, from which they could draw inspiration and strength. This is why we became Legacy Society Members at Temple Dor Dorim - to assure the future of our Jewish community and the Jewish people.

We decided to leave a Life and Legacy Gift largely due to the fact that Beth Emet has been part of our lives for nearly the entire time we have lived in Cooper City after moving from Miami. We started getting involved by volunteering for Mitzvah Day as a family. We attended the High Holiday and Shabbat services throughout the years. It was so nice seeing so many of our friends there as well. Our children, Cory and Lindsey, attended the religious school and had their bar and bat mitzvah there and attended the Youth Group. I had a great ten year run as a 4th and 5th grade teacher at the amazing Beth Emet School! I had the honor of being named Outstanding Jewish Educator while working there. When I was given the opportunity to study in Israel, the Temple encouraged me to go and supported my trip. Both our children have worked in the summer camp program. We have enjoyed attending the many festivities at the Temple such as the fun galas and Nosh Fests. My husband loves serving on the board, and especially participating in the poker tournaments. Therefore,

leaving a Life and Legacy gift was an excellent next step. It will be a wonderful thing to leave behind the memories of how our family was connected to the Jewish community through Temple Beth Emet and inspire others to do the same.

It is very important to me that I participated in the Life & Legacy.

I was born in New York. My grandparents arrived from Germany and Russia in the 1890’s and 1920’s respectively.

I was lucky to be able to know all 4 grandparents who taught me the meaning of being a good and kind Jewish person.  It was very important to them that I understood about my Jewish heritage.

I believe I taught our heritage to my daughter and son, through the “family” of Temple Beth Emet.  I want to know that future generations will have the same opportunities that I and my children had. Where there is the feeling of security and support by being part of the Jewish community.

My husband I made the decision to leave a Life and Legacy Gift because Temple Beth Emet has been a critical part of our lives for over 35 years. Our children were named there, attended pre-school and religious school, had their Bat/Bar Mitzvahs and attended Confirmation. Our Rabbi later married our daughter who he had named as an infant. The temple has been " a second home for us." It provides spirituality, education and encourages philanthropy.  

My father-in-law was put into a concentration camp at age 13. He spent 4 years there and lost most of his family. It is imperative that we ensure the survival of our Jewish communities and remind future generations that they "must never forget these horrible atrocities." I served on the board at the temple and later became its president. I encourage everyone to give back, perform Mitzvot and to give a gift to the Life and Legacy campaign.

Temple Beth Emet has been a part of the Bernstein Family since the beginning.  We have raised our children in the TBE religious school and our children were Bar and Bat Mitzvah.  Our children continued in Temple to confirmation.  Our blessings continued with both of our children married by Rabbi Bennett Greenspon.  The Temple has been part of all life cycle events including the passing of our parents.  We are forever grateful that Temple Beth Emet has been and will continue to be part of our lives.  Our legacy gift is our way of saying Thank You!