As we made our legacy gift, we reflected on why making this meaningful commitment to the Jewish Federation of Cleveland is so important to us.

As a child and young adult my life was highly intertwined in the Dayton Jewish Community, which only had around 4,000 Jews at the time. I not only knew every Jewish person in the area, but also had a deep understanding of how the Jewish organizations influenced our lives. Wendi and I married and moved back to Dayton. Wendi, having grown up in Cleveland learned about living in a small Jewish community and she embraced how every person was highly involved and committed to the community. My mom instilled a desire and passion to give back to my community, and as we raised our two daughters, Wendi was inspired to get involved as well, giving and volunteering in her own ways.

Although it was nothing new to Wendi, moving to Cleveland five years ago was a whirlwind for me, in a good way. Suddenly I was surrounded by a robust Jewish community that had everything I could ever imagine. In Cleveland, everyone in the community may not be compelled to give and volunteer like they were in Dayton. By this time our children were grown, and we are grandparents. It is important to us to set an example that inspires them to get involved and to give back to their Jewish communities as they raise their families.

This legacy gift is our way of ensuring that our passion and excitement for the Cleveland Jewish community endures for years to come and goes from strength to s¬trength.