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"I did not find the world desolate when
I entered it. As my father planted for me so will I plant for my children and my children's children." Talmud
 Whenever I have the opportunity to speak to anyone
about The Foundation, I guess I'm guilty of going about it in a circuitous manner.
I always begin by talking about the wonderful programs and contributions the Synagogues and Jewish Institutions
in our community sponsor. These include religious schools to provide us with future Jewish leaders, places to gather
to promote Jewish community and continuity, a place to take care of our elderly in a Jewish caring facility, a
Jewish place that provides help to people (Jewish and non Jewish), and places of Jewish worship and learning. I
am certain to mention the commitment (time and money) that you as a community have made, and continue to make,
to ensure the quality of our synagogues and other Jewish institutions.
I then talk about the future and how important it is to do what must be done to
ensure that all of the wonderful synagogues and Jewish institutions that we have lovingly and sometimes painfully
created and nurtured have a prosperous future. Next, I talk about the Jacksonville Jewish Foundation Mission and
its role in the future of our Jewish community.
Everyone is always all ears and nodding "yes" to everything I have said
to this point. I am told how wonderful it is that we are undertaking this important endeavor.
Finally, I inform my listener that I am glad that they agree with all that I have
said. There is just one more thing that everyone needs to understand. The Jacksonville Jewish Foundation and its
support of the Jewish future of our community only works if the Jewish people in our community PARTICIPATE in the
Foundation. I lose a lot of listeners when I get to the "PARTICIPATION" part.
Thanks to the vision and financial support of the Jacksonville Jewish Federation and our other 9
partners - Ahavath
Chesed (The Temple), Beth El at the Beaches, Beth Shalom Congregation, Etz Chaim Synagogue, Jacksonville Jewish Center, Jewish Community Alliance, the Jewish Family and Community Services and River Garden Hebrew
Home, we are at a milestone for our Jacksonville Jewish Foundation.
Due to the hard work of many people we have accomplished much. We have over $28
million in future commitments which will someday contribute $1,400,000 a year to our community. We have the "B'nai Tzedek Program" to help develop future Jewish givers. We have the "Endowment Book of Life"
program whose purpose is to create a broad base of participants in the Jacksonville Jewish Foundation. But, we
have much more to accomplish in order to secure our community's Jewish future.
It doesn't take a lot of money to be part of the Jacksonville Jewish Foundation.
We need everyone in the community. Please don't be one of those listeners that we lose when we mention "PARTICIPATION."
Call us at your Jacksonville Jewish Foundation (904) 394-0720 to find out what
you can do to help ensure our community's Jewish future.
Melvin Gottlieb
Past President - 1998 - 2003
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