A Positive Impact for Generations to Come

A bequest of retirement plan assets is a simple way to leave a meaningful legacy.

For Gail and Ed Weintraub, giving to their community is a way of life. Gail spent most of her career at Montefiore and Jewish Family Service Association (JFSA) working with seniors as a social worker. “There is no population that needs more of our support than the elderly. Working with hospice patients felt like a gift to me — to help people on that journey.” Ed counts Gail as his inspiration, “From the time we met she was always involved with Jewish communal work. She set the tone in our home.”

While busy with their careers and raising three children, Gail and Ed found time for community involvement. They were active at Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple where Ed served as the president for several years. Ed was also a campaigner for the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s Campaign for Jewish Needs. And as members of Federation’s Silver Circle* they donated to the Federation’s campaign every year. Gail explained, “It is a given in our life. The Federation is the umbrella over our community. We support it so that all of the beneficiary agencies can thrive.”

When asked what motivated them to create a Jewish legacy at the Federation, Gail and Ed explained that with their adult children now independent and self-sufficient, the timing felt right to consider a bequest to the Federation. They found the experience of arranging the gift an easy one, “From a mechanical standpoint, it’s just about the easiest thing when you donate assets from your IRA. You just make a change to the beneficiary form. Friends who had done this set the example and it was really simple.”

Gail and Ed’s children have been inspired by their parents’ foresight. They were moved and proud when Gail and Ed shared the statement they wrote for the Endowment Book of Life. And the message of tzedakah has been passed down to the next generation as well. Gail and Ed’s grandchildren established Donor Advised Funds** at the Federation when they became Bar and Bat Mitzvahed.

The Weintraubs are glad to be leaving their legacy in Cleveland. Ed explained, “This is where I was born. This is where we earned our living, and this is the community that has impacted us. We have a deep sense of appreciation and we feel a debt of gratitude.”

They hope their bequest will inspire family and friends and that it makes a positive impact for generations to come. “We hope that our gift is our legacy. That we are part of good things that will happen after we are gone that will positively impact not only our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, but also the entire community.”

*Silver Circle Members are donors to the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s annual Campaign for Jewish Needs who have contributed for 25 years or more.

** Donor Advised Funds are named funds of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland in which the donor retains the privilege to make charitable grant recommendations.

Meet Michael Cole

For more information, contact Michael Cole at 216-593-2795 or mcole@jcfcleve.org.