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In Recognition of the "newly Endowed Lion"
Lion of Judah Endowment
"Endowed Lion of Judah Women"
May 12, 2003
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On behalf of those whose lives you have touched with tzedakah and in recognition
of your decision to establish a permanent endowment fund to ensure the future of our Jewish community and life
with dignity for every Jew the Jacksonville Jewish Foundation gratefully acknowledges the significant decision
to ensure the future of our Jewish community made by our Endowed Lion of Judah Women. |
Jacksonville is fortunate to be the hometown of an incredible group of Jewish
women who proudly wear the Lion of Judah pin. When you have seen the pin have you ever wondered about the significance
of this symbol? That lion has deep meaning to our people and to the women like Phyliss Vandroff who wear it. It
is a representation of the values that other Lion of Judah women believe in and act upon daily.
For the women who wear the Lion of Judah pin it symbolically sums up thousands of years of connection to Eretz
Yisrael. This simple pin designed by a jeweler in Miami in 1972 connects us to our history.
So what is the Jewish history behind the Lion of Judah?
Judah himself, from the book of Genesis was the very first lion. Historically each of the twelve tribes of
Israel had a symbol associated with it and the symbol given to the tribe of Judah was the lion, from the verse
in Genesis Gur Aryeh Yehudah. Over time all Jews came to be known by the name Judah - Yehudah. In fact the Hebrew
word for Jew "Yehudi" comes from the name Yehudah - Judah. Judah had a rather colorful history early
on. But later in Genesis it becomes clear why the Lion of Judah was chosen as a symbol to express the values and
commitment to the Jewish people of women who proudly wear the pin.
You may recall from the book of Genesis how Joseph was sold into slavery by his
brothers. Unknown to his brothers, over time he rose to the number two position in Egypt. Years later a drought
came upon the land of Canaan where his family lived. Joseph's brothers who had sold him into slavery traveled to
Egypt to appear before him begging for food. Ironically their fate lay in the hands of the very brother they betrayed
so many years before. Joseph refused their pleas insisting that they go back to Canaan and return with their youngest
brother Benjamin to plead again. After Joseph's disappearance Benjamin had become their father's favorite son.
Judah convinced their reluctant father to let Benjamin make the journey to Egypt by promising to protect him and
bring him home safely.
When the brothers, including Benjamin, reappeared in Egypt, Joseph planted a silver goblet in Benjamin's sack.
As the brothers departed Egypt Joseph had them arrested and accused them of stealing. Denying the charge they allowed
themselves to be searched. But the goblet was found in Benjamin's sack. Joseph ordered the release of the brothers
but decried that Benjamin must remain a slave in Egypt.
Joseph devised this plan to test his brothers. He wondered if they would once
again allow a member of the family, the favorite child, to become a slave in Egypt? Or this time would they take
responsibility for one another and risk their own freedom and lives to do what was right to save their brother
Benjamin. Judah made an impassioned plea to Joseph, begging him to release his brother Benjamin and enslave him
instead.
Earlier in the book of Genesis Cain had killed his brother Abel. G-d knew Abel was lying dead yet asked him, "Where
is your brother?" G-d's question was an attempt to allow Cain to accept responsibility for what he had done.
G-d was seeking an expression of remorse, a gesture of caring, a hint of responsibility. Cain responded to G-d's
question by inquiring, "Am I my bother's keeper?"
Throughout the rest of the book of Genesis we along with G-d wait for someone to answer the question, "Am
I my brother's keeper?" Throughout the entire book of Genesis we wait for someone to step forward and answer,
"Yes, I am my brother's and my sister's keeper," and it is Judah who steps forward and establishes the
example. As Judah offers to take his brother Benjamin's place as a slave he accepts responsibility for his brother's
welfare. Thus this story of Judah becomes symbolic of our responsibility of one Jew to another. This is the lesson
of the book of Genesis.
Women who wear the symbol of Judah have stepped forward to take responsibility for our Jewish brothers and sisters
here in Jacksonville and wherever they may be. Their actions rescue, protect, provide for and reunite our Jewish
family from the four corners of the earth. They epitomize the Jewish philosophy of acceptance of the responsibility
of one Jew to another. These women, your neighbors, your wives, your sisters, your mothers, your daughters, your
friends are the Lion of Judah women, and they rightly wear this symbol.
In our community we have women who have added a flame to their pin. Women who wear the flame, the eternal light,
have made a commitment to endow their gift to the Federation annual campaign. With this choice women have ensured
that the values they believe in and the causes they support now will continue to receive that support in perpetuity.
There exists a concept in the Talmud of certain mitzvot - certain commandments - for which "One enjoys the
fruits in this world while the principal remains in the world to come." In other words, there are certain
commandments for which one receives a reward both in this world and in the next world. Deeds of loving kindness,
gemilut chasadim, is one mitzvot for which you are rewarded in this world and the world to come.
Women who are wearing the flame have impacted the future of our world in such a way that the benefit will be felt
not only now, but eternally. By endowing their gifts to Jewish causes, they have impacted many lives for all time,
generation after generation. Even after you are no longer with us, your neshama - your spirit - will continue in
this world to step forward like Judah saying, "Yes, we are here for you."
When you endow your gifts to Jewish causes you ensure that your voice will continue to be heard eternally. Thus
the symbol worn by a woman such as those who have endowed their giving to the Jacksonville Jewish Federation and
to Federations across the country is a lion holding up the eternal flame. An endowment is forever. By endowing
your giving to Jewish causes, you have made a statement that will resonate for all time. Like Judah your response
to our Jewish brothers and sisters is and will be for all eternity, "Yes, we are here for you."
Our remarkable Lion of Judah women instill in us hope for the future and the Lion of Judah women who have endowed
their giving are ensuring that future.
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"As Jews we are responsible, one for another."
If there be among you a needy man, one of thy brethren, within any of thy gates,
in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thy heart, nor shut thy hand from thy needy
brother;
Deuteronomy 15:7
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