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I did not find the world desolate when I entered it, and as my fathers planted for me before I was born, so do I plant for those who will come after me.  from THE TALMUD

 

A MESSAGE FROM FOUNDATION CHAIRMAN, FRED ZIMMERMAN

 

So much of Jewish life is an invigorating mix of tradition and innovation.  The familiarity of the Shabbat service, the Passover seder, the strains of Kol Nidre…all are part of the litany of traditions that link us to our Jewish forbears of centuries ago.....more

 

DONOR ADVISED/PHILANTHROPIC FUND GRANT RECOMMENDATIONS

 

Click Here to download a grant recommendation form that you can mail or fax to us.

 

Click Here to make a grant recommendation directly online.

 

 

TIMELINE OF THE JEWISH FOUNDATION OF NASHVILLE

 

::1980 The Jewish Foundation of Nashville was established in 1980 under the name of the “Endowment Fund of the Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee” to provide for the future growth of the Nashville Jewish community.  Sixteen families began a courageous journey that year by participating in this fledgling endowment program of the Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee.  These first families having the insight to lead our community into the future are:

 

Blossom and Gerald Averbuch

            Bess and Marvin Bubis

            Marge and Ben* Cavalier

            Barbara and Marvin Friedman

            Dorothy* and Edward* Goldstein

            Bernice and Joel Gordon

            Barbara and Milton* Grossman

            Elsie* and Joe* Kraft

            Noah Liff*

            Madeline and Mitchell Magid

            Madeline and Eugene Pargh

            Sara and William* Robin

            Marilyn and Raymond Simon

            Elise and Berney* Steiner

            Sadye* and David* Stillman

            Joe and Howard Werthan

(deceased noted by *)

::1990  Since 1990, the Jewish Foundation of Nashville has annually granted monies to help meet critical emergencies and to fund research and innovative projects proposed by organizations in Nashville’s Jewish community.  In its first grant year of 1990, the Jewish Foundation awarded a total of $39,100 to fund six programs.  These programs ranged from a Jewish Programming Specialist for the Gordon JCC to the creation of Holocaust videotapes for Tennessee schools. 

 

::1999 – 2000 The name of the Endowment Fund was changed to the “Jewish Foundation of Nashville” in 1999 to increase awareness of the scope of activities undertaken by the Endowment Fund.  In the year 2000, the Jewish Foundation brought philanthropy to our future leaders – our young Bar and Bat Mitzvah teens – by creating the B’nai Tzedek program.  

 

::2005  In 2005, the Jewish Foundation expanded its award of grants to provide for ongoing community programs that might be at risk of termination because of budgetary constraints.  In 2005, $72,223 was awarded for implementing eight new and innovative projects sponsored by seven different local Jewish organizations. Further, $21,530 was allocated for ongoing community needs to support local programs in jeopardy of being discontinued. 

 

In its 25th anniversary year of 2005, the Jewish Foundation of Nashville launched its “Book of Life” program designed to allow every member of the Jewish community, from every walk of life, to become a donor and leave a legacy to insure the future of the Jewish people.  Those Book of Life donors choosing to have the vision to establish a permanent legacy during its initial two years of operation have been designated as our Charter Members.

 

We applaud our first funding families and thank those in our community who have continued their vision to establish funds, permanent gifts and legacies with the Jewish Foundation of Nashville.

Planned Giving and Endowments

Being a Jewish philanthropist is for those who believe in the Jewish future. The Jewish Foundation of Nashville is the endowment arm of the Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee and offers a variety of tax-wise estate planning and charitable giving opportunities to enable donors to meet their individual financial and estate planning needs, realize their philanthropic dreams and create a legacy for our Jewish future. Click here for more

A New Generation of Philanthropists

The B'nai Tzedek program establishes a Foundation account in the name of a Bar or Bat Mitzvah age teen and has proven to be attractive to teens, who are learning the value of Tikkun Olam, the repair of the world. For more information on the B'nai Tzedek program, contact carolyn@jewishnashville.org. more

The Book of Life: An Inside Look

Alex Limor, of Limor Steel, works on the sculpture that will surround the Jewish Foundation's Book of Life, a visual presentation on a state of the art plasma screen that will be housed in the lobby of the Gordon Jewish Community Center. The Book of Life will publicly recognize community members who establish permanent gifts to benefit the Jewish community.

For more information on The Book of Life, please contact Risa Klein Herzog, Director of Foundation Development, 615-356-3242 ext. 251, or Andrea Gilbert Berger, Foundation Director, at 615-356-3242 ext. 260.

 

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