Foundation recognizes those who provide for
community’s future
“To me, Judaism is the greatest religion in the world. I practice what I feel is right. Doing things for other people is part of the Jewish religion and I like doing what I can for others.”
Eileen Perlson wrote these words in her entry for the “Book of Life,” a program of the Jewish Community Foundation, which “recognizes and encourages endowment gifts through the foundation, while honoring the personal written stories of the individuals and families who make them,” according to Caren B. Goldberg, associate executive director of the foundation, the endowment development program of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation.
The “Book of Life” is an actual book into which the stories of those who make gifts will be kept for generations to come. It will eventually be available at an electronic kiosk that will be located in the federation’s Helfaer Building on Prospect Ave.
It gives people the chance to “tell their own story in a place that will be available for their family,” said Mark E. Brickman, foundation chair.
The “Book of Life” program, which was launched in April 2004, “honors our donors who have or are planning to make a permanent gift to the Jewish community of Milwaukee by bequest or by creating an endowment, Goldberg said, while also offering “glimpses into the lives of the signers.”
Though the foundation “recognizes everyone” who makes a gift, said Brickman, “this gives us a new way of doing it.”
“People are really enjoying having the opportunity to tell their story,” which Brickman said is as “important to us as the gifts that we secure.”
He hopes that “people will start talking to their friends about it and they will want to tell their story based on what they have heard” about the program.
Though each contributor can choose what to include in their personal story, Goldberg said that many of them “talk of strength, faith, commitment, love, family, friendship and community.”
The stories also talk about life experiences and offer interesting bits of autobiographical information about the signer.
In her entry, Rosalie Gellman wrote about growing up in a home filled with humor. “As a child I performed in comedy and learned to be a ventriloquist,” eventually working “as a performer in dozens of military camps.” She met her late husband, Edward, at a Jewish USO.
“Today,” she continued, “I am able to give substantial gifts to charities because of Ed. We started with very little, but Ed’s hard work was fruitful. Through my legacy to the Jewish Community Foundation, I am able to continue my family’s pursuit of social justice, and that gives me a very satisfying feeling.”
“I feel so strongly about how important it is to learn from the past and to look to the future,” said Sue Selig, who is the chair of the “Book of Life” committee, as well as a signer of the book.
‘As inclusive as possible’ Selig feels it’s important “to preserve history of the Jews here in Milwaukee,” which was the “main reason I took on the job of chairing” the committee, she said.
Selig said the program is “off to a good start.”
The program is intended for all age groups. No minimum contribution is required.
“The program is intended to be as inclusive as possible,” Goldberg said. “It is a way for everyone to participate.”
“The gift is something that is not necessarily made today,” Brickman said. “We’re hoping people will think about creating a legacy for the future.”
Though the JCF has no specific goal for how many people they would like to sign the book, Goldberg said that she hopes they will have about 50 by September, when there will be a formal signing ceremony for the family and friends of each person who has written an entry. The signing ceremony will be an annual event.
“We hope that future generations will connect with those who came before them and become inspired themselves to create legacies for the future,” said Goldberg.
She hopes they will want to secure the Jewish community in the way that others, like George Bursak and his late wife Ida are doing.
Bursak, who overcame dyslexia, “created many inventions and patents for packaging machinery as well as cosmetic and disposable products used in hospitals and nursing homes.” he wrote in his entry.
But when Bursak and his wife “reached a time of wealth, we looked for ways to give away our money. We never forgot the many, many people who helped us through the years and always felt an obligation to repay them through charitable deeds.”
As Bursak wrote in the conclusion of his story, “I know that my gift will enable future generations of our Jewish community to benefit from our successes.”
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