Dor L’Dor Society widens its reach

Until recently, the Dor L’Dor Society included only individuals who established a bequest or a planned gift with the Jewish Federation Foundation. Now, the Jewish Federation Foundation announces a modification to those criteria to include those who have established endowment funds as well.

“We would like to thank those who believe in our Jewish community. By opening up the Dor L’Dor Society, it gives us the opportunity to include even more of those who recognize the important work we do to secure our Jewish future,” said Jay Rosenstein, chair of the Board of the Jewish Federation Foundation. The Foundation was established in 1945 as the endowment fund of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.

Key to the success of the future of the Jewish community is planning ahead. By establishing a bequest or endowment, donors ensure and preserve the community’s vibrant Jewish future by contributing to the Jewish Federation Foundation in perpetuity and leaving a legacy, thereby becoming Dor L’Dor Society members.

Each year, the Jewish Federation Foundation publishes a celebrated honor roll of Dor L’Dor members in the annual donor report to mark their foresight and to inspire others. Dor L’Dor members demonstrate commitment to the Jewish community and are celebrated throughout the year. Members are also honored guests at the Jewish Federation Foundation special annual event.

This year’s program will be held on April 30 at noon and will feature Martin Greenfield, author of “Measure of a Man: From Auschwitz Survivor to Presidents’ Tailor,” a memoir of a man who suffered unimaginable horror yet emerged with dreams of success. Now 86 and working with his sons, Greenfield has dressed the famous of Hollywood and powerful of D.C., including Presidents Eisenhower, Clinton and Obama.

Greenfield was seized from his Czechoslovakian home at age 15 and shipped to the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz with his family, where he was  separated forever from his parents and siblings.

In haunting reflection and powerful prose, Greenfield remembers his desperation and fear as a teenager alone in the death camp and how an SS soldier’s shirt dramatically altered the course of his life. Greenfield learned how to sew and when he began wearing the soldier’s shirt under his prisoner uniform, as he shares in his book, he learned that clothes possess great power and may even help save his life:

“Of course, receiving your first tailoring lesson inside a Nazi concentration camp was hardly the ideal apprenticeship. I would have much preferred to hone my craft on Savile Row or in the mills of Milan. Looking back, though, that moment in the camps marked the beginning of the rest of my life. Strangely enough, two ripped Nazi shirts helped this Jew build America’s most famous and successful custom suit company. God has a wonderful sense of a humor.”

The account of Greenfield’s life inspires hope and renews faith in the resilience of man, and reinforces the timeless strength of Jews. This is the very reason becoming a member of the Dor L’ Dor Society is vital today.

There are many ways to make a planned gift to the Jewish Federation Foundation and to become a member of the Dor L’Dor Society. Contact Trine Lustig, vice president of Philanthropy, to discuss creating a lasting legacy within the community at 401-421-4111, ext. 227 or tlustig@jewishallianceri.org.

JENNIFER ZWIRN is in grants and philanthropy at the Jewish Alliance.