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“What Legacy Means to Me”

Becoming philanthropic was a process for me throughout my life. In the earliest of days, my Russian grandmother, who I adored, would welcome me to her apartment across the street with a cookie and a penny. She lifted me up to a blue box inside the pantry where she had me drop it into the slot, gave me a kiss and a cookie. In Yiddish she would praise me for helping Israel. I had no idea what I was supporting, but a smile and a cookie were proof enough to keep doing it.

Being raised in Baltimore, many of my friends’ families practiced their religion and affiliation by belonging to a temple for B’nai Mitzvah and then resigning as did my parents. It seemed normal. In Washington, DC, my family joined a very large Reform congregation over 100 years old. I was lucky enough to be mentored by some wonderful older members and became a Board member despite the size of my donation. That is where I first heard of the endowment funded by the founding members and their descendants. It sustained the temple for many years and as I became able to give more, it was never “on my plate” and remained a concept.

Coming to Temple Emanu-El eight years ago, I found that we were not blessed with a large endowment and we want to ensure we have one. Life & Legacy is the path to ensuring our future existence. Life & Legacy funds will be delivered after I am gone, but the endowment is also for today while I am living. I looked at our campus and our Rabbis, Senior Staff and congregation and wanted the warmth and love I feel to continue for the next generation. The joy of now contributing to Life & Legacy and the endowment Fund makes sense and is necessary. My grandmother would be proud that I have been to Israel several times and now think of the future for others.

I hope you will consider making the endowment part of your life today by following its growth and feeling the satisfaction of embracing a future where our growing community can look back at us with gratitude. I know that I am grateful for being able to be a part of it.

Phyllis Dreyfuss
Temple Emanu-el
Sarasota, FL